Substitute teachers in Alaska earned a mean of $35.13 an hour in May 2025, nearly three times the $12.31 average in Mississippi, according to the newest state wage estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The gap is $22.82 an hour ($35.13 minus $12.31). Put another way, Alaska's rate is 2.85 times Mississippi's.
Nationally, BLS counted 524,770 jobs for short-term substitute teachers, with a mean wage of $22.32 an hour. The median, the midpoint where half earn more and half earn less, was $20.03. One in 10 substitutes earned less than $13.73 an hour, and one in 10 earned more than $31.63. The figures come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which collects pay data from employers.
BLS also lists an annual mean of $46,420 for the job. That number roughly equals the hourly mean times 2,080 hours, which is a 40-hour week for all 52 weeks of the year ($22.32 x 2,080 = $46,426). A sub who works only on school days would take home less than that.
Finding subs has eased since 2022, school leaders told the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). In June 2025, 26% of public schools said getting substitutes had been harder than the year before (17% somewhat harder, 9% much harder), while 29% said it was easier and 45% said it was about the same, according to the NCES School Pulse Panel, a recurring survey of public schools. In May 2022, 61% said it was harder. When no sub could be found in 2024-25, 72% of schools had non-teaching staff cover classes, 59% sent in administrators, 57% had other teachers give up their prep periods, 44% combined classes into one room, and 7% canceled classes.
Substitute pay in every state
The five highest-paying states are all in the West: Alaska ($35.13), California ($30.25), Oregon ($29.38), Washington ($27.15), and Hawaii ($26.30). The five lowest are Mississippi ($12.31), Alabama ($12.34), Oklahoma ($13.78), South Dakota ($14.05), and Montana ($14.45). Eleven states and the District of Columbia paid above the national mean of $22.32.
The two states with the most substitute jobs sit far apart on pay. California had 115,660 jobs, about 22% of the national total (115,660 divided by 524,770), at a mean of $30.25 an hour. Texas had 29,150 jobs at $15.75. A California sub earned $14.50 more per hour, or 1.92 times the Texas rate.
For full-time teachers, see allk12's look at teacher pay by state.
| State | Substitute jobs | Mean hourly wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1,420 | $35.13 | $32.17 |
| California | 115,660 | $30.25 | $28.99 |
| Oregon | 8,090 | $29.38 | $28.02 |
| Washington | 14,820 | $27.15 | $26.80 |
| Hawaii | 3,990 | $26.30 | $28.14 |
| West Virginia | 4,840 | $25.97 | $23.57 |
| Minnesota | 8,660 | $25.91 | $24.22 |
| Nebraska | 3,430 | $24.80 | $18.12 |
| District of Columbia | 750 | $23.82 | $23.94 |
| Rhode Island | 1,910 | $23.38 | $21.92 |
| New York | 36,090 | $22.96 | $20.91 |
| Wisconsin | 8,420 | $22.92 | $21.13 |
| Massachusetts | 8,410 | $22.04 | $19.88 |
| Connecticut | 5,950 | $21.73 | $18.49 |
| Pennsylvania | 22,360 | $21.60 | $21.57 |
| New Jersey | 17,100 | $21.43 | $21.05 |
| Michigan | 3,600 | $21.32 | $18.99 |
| Maryland | 7,610 | $21.16 | $22.34 |
| Illinois | 17,220 | $20.88 | $18.95 |
| North Dakota | 420 | $20.56 | $20.47 |
| Vermont | 1,400 | $20.52 | $18.37 |
| Arizona | 4,710 | $20.09 | $18.51 |
| Florida | 25,270 | $19.97 | $17.83 |
| Virginia | 24,350 | $19.66 | $18.76 |
| Utah | 4,710 | $19.33 | $17.55 |
| Delaware | Not published | $19.25 | $17.55 |
| South Carolina | 7,700 | $19.16 | $14.62 |
| Maine | Not published | $19.11 | $18.00 |
| Indiana | 9,920 | $18.98 | $17.48 |
| Missouri | 11,480 | $18.87 | $16.73 |
| Iowa | 7,300 | $18.85 | $17.90 |
| Arkansas | 2,560 | $18.79 | $14.05 |
| New Hampshire | 1,070 | $18.57 | $16.82 |
| Wyoming | 2,230 | $18.31 | $17.79 |
| Ohio | 9,140 | $18.19 | $17.86 |
| Kentucky | 320 | $17.99 | $14.29 |
| Kansas | 9,360 | $17.86 | $17.40 |
| New Mexico | 3,510 | $17.71 | $17.50 |
| Georgia | 16,400 | $17.42 | $18.69 |
| Idaho | 1,800 | $17.42 | $16.39 |
| North Carolina | 20,360 | $16.93 | $16.24 |
| Texas | 29,150 | $15.75 | $15.41 |
| Louisiana | 1,090 | $15.69 | $13.16 |
| Tennessee | 7,690 | $15.26 | $14.18 |
| Nevada | 6,600 | $15.17 | $12.00 |
| Montana | 2,370 | $14.45 | $13.49 |
| South Dakota | 1,610 | $14.05 | $13.39 |
| Oklahoma | 4,990 | $13.78 | $11.43 |
| Alabama | 9,290 | $12.34 | $12.18 |
| Mississippi | 2,390 | $12.31 | $10.74 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (SOC 25-3031). Sorted by mean hourly wage. Job counts are rounded to the nearest 10 and exclude the self-employed. Wages are straight-time gross pay and leave out overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits. BLS published no estimate for Colorado and did not publish job counts for Delaware or Maine.
What it takes to substitute in five large states
In Texas, the Texas Education Agency rule on educator assignments puts the job on districts. The rule, last amended effective March 9, 2026, says: "If a school district must employ a substitute teacher who is not certified, the district must ensure the individual has the appropriate knowledge and skills to serve in the assignment." Districts must also keep a list of those substitutes on file. The rule names no degree requirement.
California's Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues an Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit. Applicants need official transcripts showing a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college, which since June 29, 2024 also meets the state's basic skills requirement, plus fingerprinting and an application fee. A holder can fill in for any one teacher for no more than 30 days in a school year, or 20 days in a special education classroom. The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed.
Florida law leaves sub pay and hiring procedures to each district school board but sets a floor in Section 1012.35 of the Florida Statutes: fingerprints, a high school diploma or equivalent, and an orientation on school safety and security, liability law, professional responsibilities, and ethics. Candidates with no prior teaching experience must also complete training in classroom management and instructional strategies.
The New York State Education Department does not issue substitute teaching certificates. A sub who has no certificate and is not working toward one can work no more than 40 days in a school year in a school or BOCES, one of the state's regional boards of cooperative educational services. A superintendent can stretch that to 90 days by certifying that a good-faith search found no certified teacher, and past 90 days in narrower cases. Districts may add requirements such as a college degree, and New York City requires its own substitute license.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires day-to-day subs to hold at least a bachelor's degree, have background clearances, and be authorized to work in the United States. If the sub is not certified, the school requests a Type 06 emergency permit. That permit covers up to 20 days for any one teacher. Longer assignments need a long-term substitute permit, Type 04.
Of these five states, California paid subs the most, at $30.25 an hour. Texas paid the least, at $15.75. New York paid $22.96, Pennsylvania $21.60, and Florida $19.97.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables, May 2025 (national and state files)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS technical notes, May 2025
National Center for Education Statistics: School Pulse Panel results, Absenteeism topic, 2024-25
Texas Education Agency: 19 TAC Chapter 231, Subchapter A, Section 231.1
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing: Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit (CL-505p)
Florida Senate: Florida Statutes, Section 1012.35, Substitute teachers
New York State Education Department: Substitute Teaching
Pennsylvania Department of Education: Get a Permit to Substitute Teach in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education: CSPG 13, Emergency Permits
