Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Substitute teachers, short-term (SOC 25-3031) employed 524,770 people in May 2025. The median pay is $41,670 a year ($20.03 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,560 and the highest-paid 10% more than $65,790. BLS projects its employment to change by +2.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 65,000 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree.
Highest median pay: Alaska ($66,920), California ($60,300), Hawaii ($58,530). Most jobs: California (115,660), New York (36,090), Texas (29,150).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,560 | $13.73 |
| 25th percentile | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Median | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Mean | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| 75th percentile | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $65,790 | $31.63 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 556,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 567,000 |
| Change in jobs | 10,900 |
| Percent change | +2.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 65,000 |
| Self-employed share | 5.2% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 9,290 | 1.30 | $25,340 | $18,170 | $30,020 | -39% | 51% |
| Alaska | 1,420 | 1.30 | $66,920 | $38,250 | $132,530 | +61% | 26% |
| Arizona | 4,710 | 0.43 | $38,500 | $31,170 | $50,290 | -8% | 52% |
| Arkansas | 2,560 | 0.58 | $29,230 | $24,440 | $36,040 | -30% | 40% |
| California | 115,660 | 1.88 | $60,300 | $39,040 | $78,670 | +45% | 42% |
| Connecticut | 5,950 | 1.04 | $38,460 | $35,050 | $63,980 | -8% | 48% |
| District of Columbia | 750 | 0.31 | $49,790 | $46,450 | $51,090 | +19% | 47% |
| Florida | 25,270 | 0.75 | $37,080 | $30,300 | $60,520 | -11% | 59% |
| Georgia | 16,400 | 0.99 | $38,870 | $20,800 | $45,900 | -7% | 46% |
| Hawaii | 3,990 | 1.89 | $58,530 | $45,690 | $60,620 | +40% | 40% |
| Idaho | 1,800 | 0.62 | $34,080 | $29,110 | $45,240 | -18% | 49% |
| Illinois | 17,220 | 0.84 | $39,410 | $31,200 | $58,040 | -5% | 40% |
| Indiana | 9,920 | 0.92 | $36,360 | $28,540 | $56,330 | -13% | 36% |
| Iowa | 7,300 | 1.39 | $37,230 | $30,980 | $47,770 | -11% | 32% |
| Kansas | 9,360 | 1.93 | $36,190 | $28,980 | $44,900 | -13% | 36% |
| Kentucky | 320 | 0.05 | $29,730 | $24,120 | $64,680 | -29% | 40% |
| Louisiana | 1,090 | 0.17 | $27,370 | $20,730 | $44,350 | -34% | 47% |
| Maryland | 7,610 | 0.82 | $46,470 | $32,870 | $47,360 | +12% | 44% |
| Massachusetts | 8,410 | 0.69 | $41,350 | $33,590 | $58,930 | -1% | 54% |
| Michigan | 3,600 | 0.24 | $39,500 | $29,720 | $61,370 | -5% | 35% |
| Minnesota | 8,660 | 0.87 | $50,390 | $37,750 | $75,890 | +21% | 31% |
| Mississippi | 2,390 | 0.61 | $22,340 | $16,430 | $33,320 | -46% | 53% |
| Missouri | 11,480 | 1.16 | $34,790 | $29,220 | $49,850 | -17% | 37% |
| Montana | 2,370 | 1.37 | $28,050 | $22,930 | $38,230 | -33% | 50% |
| Nebraska | 3,430 | 0.99 | $37,690 | $28,080 | $61,450 | -10% | 35% |
| Nevada | 6,600 | 1.26 | $24,960 | $24,960 | $40,620 | -40% | 82% |
| New Hampshire | 1,070 | 0.46 | $34,990 | $28,870 | $46,490 | -16% | 53% |
| New Jersey | 17,100 | 1.18 | $43,780 | $34,170 | $58,670 | +5% | 49% |
| New Mexico | 3,510 | 1.19 | $36,400 | $30,170 | $43,960 | -13% | 37% |
| New York | 36,090 | 1.10 | $43,490 | $35,090 | $60,010 | +4% | 45% |
| North Carolina | 20,360 | 1.22 | $33,780 | $28,390 | $45,040 | -19% | 48% |
| North Dakota | 420 | 0.29 | $42,570 | $33,780 | $55,080 | +2% | 28% |
| Ohio | 9,140 | 0.49 | $37,150 | $28,480 | $47,470 | -11% | 35% |
| Oklahoma | 4,990 | 0.87 | $23,770 | $18,300 | $42,550 | -43% | 53% |
| Oregon | 8,090 | 1.22 | $58,280 | $54,870 | $74,290 | +40% | 33% |
| Pennsylvania | 22,360 | 1.09 | $44,870 | $30,470 | $63,930 | +8% | 33% |
| Rhode Island | 1,910 | 1.13 | $45,590 | $36,410 | $60,640 | +9% | 37% |
| South Carolina | 7,700 | 0.99 | $30,400 | $22,460 | $78,690 | -27% | 50% |
| South Dakota | 1,610 | 1.04 | $27,840 | $25,560 | $34,700 | -33% | 43% |
| Tennessee | 7,690 | 0.69 | $29,500 | $21,570 | $35,970 | -29% | 52% |
| Texas | 29,150 | 0.61 | $32,040 | $22,870 | $39,090 | -23% | 55% |
| Utah | 4,710 | 0.80 | $36,490 | $24,710 | $53,780 | -12% | 52% |
| Vermont | 1,400 | 1.36 | $38,200 | $31,470 | $54,120 | -8% | 41% |
| Virginia | 24,350 | 1.76 | $39,020 | $27,670 | $53,540 | -6% | 51% |
| Washington | 14,820 | 1.24 | $55,740 | $45,790 | $67,700 | +34% | 39% |
| West Virginia | 4,840 | 2.05 | $49,020 | $41,440 | $75,290 | +18% | 22% |
| Wisconsin | 8,420 | 0.85 | $43,950 | $35,740 | $59,890 | +5% | 31% |
| Wyoming | 2,230 | 2.35 | $36,990 | $30,600 | $45,590 | -11% | 32% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 330 | $78,840 | $46,950 | $132,530 | 0.55 |
| Napa, CA | 300 | $76,520 | $46,310 | $96,250 | 1.12 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,800 | $72,330 | $49,520 | $79,000 | 0.99 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 5,390 | $66,480 | $49,210 | $76,690 | 4.73 |
| Vallejo, CA | 700 | $66,000 | $47,890 | $79,880 | 1.44 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 3,060 | $65,190 | $48,840 | $77,280 | 3.13 |
| Salinas, CA | 1,220 | $63,970 | $39,170 | $94,660 | 1.94 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,990 | $63,440 | $60,340 | $94,450 | 3.03 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 480 | $62,660 | $45,210 | $63,490 | 0.90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 610 | $62,310 | $42,360 | $72,770 | 0.90 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 350 | $62,280 | $49,400 | $65,810 | 1.40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 2,100 | $62,260 | $38,440 | $73,410 | 1.92 |
| Yuba City, CA | 370 | $61,710 | $44,770 | $80,430 | 2.14 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,430 | $61,290 | $48,610 | $76,200 | 2.06 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 4,110 | $61,190 | $50,120 | $74,720 | 1.01 |
| Chico, CA | 450 | $61,030 | $47,240 | $98,580 | 1.70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 10,570 | $60,790 | $40,410 | $84,700 | 1.32 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 15,430 | $60,780 | $47,030 | $74,290 | 2.66 |
| Merced, CA | 1,450 | $60,770 | $47,150 | $71,210 | 5.42 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 7,220 | $60,070 | $51,770 | $74,340 | 1.02 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 1,070 | $59,900 | $43,150 | $59,900 | 3.22 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 9,480 | $59,860 | $38,990 | $78,590 | 1.83 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 6,510 | $59,780 | $43,680 | $76,390 | 1.78 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 680 | $58,620 | $45,580 | $74,450 | 1.66 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 2,900 | $58,520 | $45,540 | $58,760 | 1.92 |
| Beckley, WV | 500 | $58,250 | $45,160 | $61,450 | 3.41 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 35,740 | $57,210 | $37,090 | $80,680 | 1.69 |
| Bend, OR | 700 | $56,600 | $56,600 | $62,490 | 1.92 |
| Visalia, CA | 1,880 | $56,040 | $38,430 | $69,150 | 3.25 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 450 | $55,950 | $52,540 | $57,530 | 1.44 |
| Bellingham, WA | 600 | $55,740 | $47,560 | $55,740 | 1.94 |
| Medford, OR | 460 | $55,580 | $54,680 | $77,740 | 1.53 |
| Fresno, CA | 8,670 | $54,890 | $43,500 | $71,210 | 5.39 |
| El Centro, CA | 690 | $54,420 | $40,290 | $66,220 | 3.12 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 7,940 | $54,050 | $34,060 | $60,520 | 0.83 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 580 | $53,850 | $34,170 | $75,310 | 1.61 |
| Green Bay, WI | 620 | $52,680 | $38,340 | $52,680 | 1.05 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,110 | $52,000 | $40,560 | $53,790 | 1.29 |
| Yakima, WA | 710 | $51,490 | $46,990 | $56,560 | 2.18 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 7,510 | $50,390 | $37,750 | $75,890 | 1.14 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 460 | $49,630 | $46,080 | $49,630 | 3.76 |
| Erie, PA | 400 | $49,580 | $33,220 | $63,930 | 0.99 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 860 | $48,270 | $44,840 | $63,110 | 1.81 |
| Morgantown, WV | 330 | $46,760 | $33,960 | $70,660 | 1.43 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,480 | $46,680 | $31,630 | $65,930 | 0.23 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 360 | $46,530 | $30,080 | $59,060 | 1.42 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 15,060 | $46,470 | $35,620 | $53,540 | 1.42 |
| Reading, PA | 1,140 | $46,310 | $36,260 | $78,740 | 1.94 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,560 | $46,190 | $35,460 | $57,660 | 0.56 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,750 | $45,800 | $29,860 | $60,720 | 1.07 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 11,210 | $45,680 | $33,800 | $60,550 | 1.15 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,780 | $45,510 | $35,870 | $59,130 | 1.15 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 26,760 | $45,220 | $34,570 | $59,940 | 0.84 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 750 | $45,050 | $44,060 | $52,000 | 1.71 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 320 | $45,050 | $44,570 | $52,000 | 1.85 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 970 | $44,690 | $36,850 | $44,690 | 1.66 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 720 | $44,680 | $28,480 | $45,040 | 1.62 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 430 | $44,550 | $36,780 | $51,470 | 0.76 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1,320 | $44,370 | $28,900 | $44,370 | 1.07 |
| Kenosha, WI | 470 | $44,240 | $38,300 | $45,860 | 1.85 |
The median is $41,670 a year ($20.03 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $28,560 and the highest-paid tenth over $65,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
524,770 in May 2025, and BLS projects +2.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
Alaska, with a median of $66,920 (among states with published figures).