Substitute teacher demographics and statistics in the US
Substitute teacher demographics research summary. Zippia estimates substitute teacher demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our substitute teacher estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about substitute teachers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 818,029 substitute teachers currently employed in the United States.
- 72.8% of all substitute teachers are women, while 27.2% are men.
- The average substitute teacher age is 42 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of substitute teachers is White (58.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (16.0%), Black or African American (11.8%) and Asian (7.7%).
- Substitute teachers are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The education industry is the highest-paying for substitute teachers.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $39,574, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women substitute teachers earned 96% of what men earned.
- 11% of all substitute teachers are LGBT.
- Arizona is the best state for substitute teachers to live.
- Substitute teachers are 86% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Substitute teacher demographics by:
Substitute teacher gender statistics
72.8% of substitute teachers are women and 27.2% of substitute teachers are men.
- Female, 72.8%
- Male, 27.2%
Substitute teacher gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 72.8% |
| Male | 27.2% |
Substitute teacher gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$33,438
Female income
$32,170
Substitute teacher gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in substitute teacher positions over time. Currently, 72.8% of substitute teachers are female.
Substitute teacher gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 27.35% | 72.65% |
| 2011 | 26.92% | 73.08% |
| 2012 | 29.01% | 70.99% |
| 2013 | 28.30% | 71.70% |
| 2014 | 28.40% | 71.60% |
| 2015 | 26.60% | 73.40% |
| 2016 | 28.52% | 71.48% |
| 2017 | 28.92% | 71.08% |
| 2018 | 28.27% | 71.73% |
| 2019 | 27.01% | 72.99% |
| 2020 | 26.69% | 73.31% |
| 2021 | 27.16% | 72.84% |
Substitute teacher related jobs gender ratio
We compared substitute teachers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, guitar instructor and rescue instructor have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education Instructor | 6% | 94% |
| Ballet Teacher | 7% | 93% |
| Horseback Riding Instructor | 12% | 88% |
| Substitute Teacher | 27% | 73% |
| Guitar Teacher | 83% | 17% |
| Rescue Instructor | 85% | 15% |
| Guitar Instructor | 88% | 12% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Substitute teacher demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among substitute teachers is White, which makes up 58.1% of all substitute teachers. Comparatively, 16.0% of substitute teachers are Hispanic or Latino and 11.8% of substitute teachers are Black or African American.
- White, 58.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 16.0%
- Black or African American, 11.8%
- Asian, 7.7%
- Unknown, 5.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Substitute teacher race
| Substitute teacher race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.0% |
| Black or African American | 11.8% |
| Asian | 7.7% |
| Unknown | 5.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Substitute teacher race and ethnicity over time
See how substitute teacher racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Substitute teacher race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.96% | 13.08% | 5.31% | 13.32% |
| 2011 | 64.00% | 13.23% | 5.65% | 13.89% |
| 2012 | 64.03% | 12.50% | 6.04% | 14.32% |
| 2013 | 63.37% | 12.27% | 5.95% | 14.76% |
| 2014 | 62.92% | 12.23% | 7.20% | 14.19% |
| 2015 | 63.98% | 11.68% | 6.73% | 14.00% |
| 2016 | 62.84% | 12.27% | 6.09% | 15.05% |
| 2017 | 62.39% | 11.90% | 6.85% | 15.18% |
| 2018 | 61.60% | 12.09% | 7.95% | 14.64% |
| 2019 | 62.86% | 11.26% | 7.22% | 15.19% |
| 2020 | 60.15% | 11.54% | 7.07% | 15.44% |
| 2021 | 58.07% | 11.84% | 7.70% | 16.04% |
Substitute teacher wage gap by race
According to our data, white substitute teachers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american substitute teachers have the lowest average salary at $32,838.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $33,252 |
| White | $33,749 |
| Black or African American | $32,838 |
| Asian | $33,731 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $33,629 |
Average substitute teacher age
See how the average age of substitute teachers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Substitute teacher age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 43 | 43 |
| Unknown | 39.5 | 41 |
| Asian | 35 | 45 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37 | 35 |
| White | 43 | 43 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 40 | 43 |
Substitute teacher age breakdown
The average age of substitute teachers is 40+ years years old, representing 55% of the substitute teacher population.
Substitute teacher age breakdown
| Substitute Teacher Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 55% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 19% |
Substitute teacher educational attainment
The most common degree for substitute teachers is bachelor's degree, with 67% of substitute teachers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 13%.
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Associate, 13%
- Master's, 13%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Substitute teachers by degree level
| Substitute teacher degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 67% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Master's | 13% |
| High School Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Substitute teacher jobs you might like
Substitute teacher wage gap by degree level
According to the data, substitute teachers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $38,178 annually. With a Master's degree, substitute teachers earn a median annual income of $36,168 compared to $33,816 for substitute teachers with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $36,168 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $30,854 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $33,816 |
| Doctorate Degree | $38,178 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,750 |
Substitute teacher employment statistics
Most substitute teachers work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where substitute teachers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where substitute teachers work.
Substitute teacher jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 10% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 24% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 25% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 29% |
| > 10,000 employees | 5% |
Substitute teacher jobs by company type
Employees with the substitute teacher job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most substitute teachers prefer to work at education companies over government companies.
Substitute teacher jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 86% |
| Public | 1% |
| Private | 5% |
| Government | 9% |
Substitute teacher jobs by industry
The most common industries for substitute teachers are education, government and professional.
Substitute teacher industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 85% |
| Government | 8% |
| Professional | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Substitute teacher turnover and employment statistics
Substitute teacher unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for substitute teachers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Substitute teacher unemployment rate by year
| Year | Substitute teacher unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.57% |
| 2011 | 7.82% |
| 2012 | 7.21% |
| 2013 | 6.49% |
| 2014 | 6.03% |
| 2015 | 4.80% |
| 2016 | 4.35% |
| 2017 | 3.81% |
| 2018 | 3.89% |
| 2019 | 3.91% |
| 2020 | 6.57% |
| 2021 | 6.61% |
Average substitute teacher tenure
The average substitute teacher stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 207,839 substitute teachers resumes in Zippia's database.
Substitute teacher tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 25% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Substitute teacher LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of substitute teachers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Education Paraprofessional | 6.04% | 53,164 |
| Driving Instructor | 9.70% | 28,948 |
| Substitute Teacher | 10.63% | - |
| Reference Librarian | 10.75% | 1,058 |
| Instructor Nurse | 12.94% | 50,341 |
| Library Technician | 13.69% | 24,941 |
| Instructional Designer Internship | 16.25% | 94,366 |
Similar substitute teacher jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Education Paraprofessional | 6.04% | 53,164 |
| Driving Instructor | 9.70% | 28,948 |
| Reference Librarian | 10.75% | 1,058 |
| Instructor Nurse | 12.94% | 50,341 |
| Library Technician | 13.69% | 24,941 |
| Instructional Designer Internship | 16.25% | 94,366 |
Foreign languages spoken by substitute teachers
The most common foreign language among substitute teachers is Spanish at 60.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.8% and German is the third-most popular at 4.1%.
- Spanish, 60.5%
- French, 11.8%
- German, 4.1%
- Arabic, 3.5%
- Italian, 3.2%
- Other, 16.9%
Substitute teacher languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.5% |
| French | 11.8% |
| German | 4.1% |
| Arabic | 3.5% |
| Italian | 3.2% |
| Other | 16.9% |
