How Much Does a Substitute Teacher Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$41,670
Substitute teachers in the U.S. earn a median of $41,670 a year, or $20.03 an hour. Half of substitute teachers earn more than $41,670 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $65,790.
Pay percentiles for substitute teachers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $13.73 | $28,560 |
| 25th | $16.43 | $34,170 |
| 50th (median) | $20.03 | $41,670 |
| 75th | $26.39 | $54,890 |
| 90th | $31.63 | $65,790 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (SOC 25-3031). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for substitute teachers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $66,920 | $32.17 | +61% |
| California | $60,300 | $28.99 | +45% |
| Hawaii | $58,530 | $28.14 | +40% |
| Oregon | $58,280 | $28.02 | +40% |
| Washington | $55,740 | $26.80 | +34% |
| Minnesota | $50,390 | $24.22 | +21% |
| District of Columbia | $49,790 | $23.94 | +19% |
| West Virginia | $49,020 | $23.57 | +18% |
| Maryland | $46,470 | $22.34 | +12% |
| Rhode Island | $45,590 | $21.92 | +9% |
| United States | $41,670 | $20.03 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many substitute teachers are there?
BLS counts about 524,770 substitute teachers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Substitute Teachers, Short-Term”. The most jobs are in California (115,660), New York (36,090) and Texas (29,150).
The mean (average) annual wage is $46,420, higher than the median of $41,670.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,473
- Biweekly
- $1,603
- Weekly
- $801
- Daily (8 hours)
- $160
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do substitute teachers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for substitute teachers is $20.03. The middle 50% earn between $16.43 and $26.39 an hour.
Which state pays substitute teachers the most?
Alaska has the highest median wage for substitute teachers at $66,920, +61% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for substitute teachers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of substitute teachers earn less than $28,560 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.