Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Substitute teachers, short-term step into classrooms when the regular teacher is unavailable, helping schools maintain continuity in instruction. Nationally, this occupation employs about 510,000 people, reflecting a sizable presence in the education workforce. The national median annual salary is $38,470, with earnings and opportunities varying by state and metro area. Projected employment growth of 1.6% and an estimated 61,000 annual openings indicate an ongoing need for new and returning workers. The role draws on a broad mix of skills, including interpersonal abilities, speaking and listening, adaptability, critical and analytical thinking, and leadership. Creativity and innovation, along with strong writing and reading skills, also contribute to success in these positions. For people interested in education-related work that uses communication, problem solving, and people skills, short-term substitute teaching can be both a primary role and a potential gateway to other education careers such as tutors or teachers and instructors, all other.
The national median annual salary for short-term substitute teachers is $38,470, but pay levels differ notably across locations. Among the highlighted states, California shows the highest median salary at $60,300, followed by Washington at $55,740. New York and Massachusetts offer median salaries of $43,490 and $41,350, while Virginia is closer to the national level at $39,020. At the metro level, earnings can be even higher. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area reports a median salary of $72,330, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area reports $60,790. Large East Coast metros such as New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offer median salaries of $45,220 and $46,470, respectively. These figures suggest that individuals willing to work in certain states or metro areas may access higher earning potential within this occupation.
Short-term substitute teachers account for about 510,000 jobs nationally, indicating a substantial employment base. Projected employment growth for this occupation is 1.6%, suggesting a modest increase in positions over the projection period. In addition to growth, there are an estimated 61,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of new positions and the need to replace people who change jobs, leave the labor force, or move into other roles. The growth rate of 1.6% is consistent across the highlighted states and metro areas, pointing to a generally similar growth pattern in different parts of the country. For job seekers, the combination of an existing large workforce, continued projected growth, and significant annual openings indicates ongoing opportunities to enter or re-enter the field, whether as a longer-term role or as part of a broader career path that could also include related occupations such as tutors or other teaching positions.
Location plays a major role in both opportunity and pay for short-term substitute teachers. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $60,300 and the largest employment level at 115,660, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Massachusetts offer median salaries of $43,490 and $41,350 and opportunity scores of 65.78 and 65.87, respectively, with more modest employment levels than California. Washington shows a relatively high median salary of $55,740 and an opportunity score of 56.29, while Virginia combines a median salary of $39,020 with an opportunity score of 54.96 and employment of 24,350. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has both the highest listed median salary at $72,330 and the highest opportunity score at 77.42. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro also ranks high with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 26,760. These figures highlight meaningful differences in pay, employment size, and opportunity scores across regions.
The typical education requirement for short-term substitute teachers is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the broad skill set associated with the role. Key skills include interpersonal abilities, speaking and listening, and writing and reading, which are central to working with students and school staff. Critical and analytical thinking, along with adaptability and creativity and innovation, help substitutes function effectively in varied classroom settings and situations. Additional skills such as science and mathematics can support work across different subject areas, while leadership skills are relevant when managing classrooms and student activities. Customer service skills also appear in the top skill list, reflecting the importance of interacting professionally and constructively with students, families, and colleagues. For students and career changers, developing these skills alongside a bachelor’s degree aligns well with the typical profile for this occupation and may also be valuable for related roles such as tutors or other teaching positions.
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