Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Also called: Building Sub (Building Substitute), Building Sub Teacher (Building Substitute Teacher), Certified Sub Teacher (Certified Substitute Teacher), Child Development Sub Teacher (Child Development Substitute Teacher), Classroom Sub Teacher (Classroom Substitute Teacher), Elementary Sub Teacher (Elementary Substitute Teacher), English Sub Teacher (English Substitute Teacher), ESL Sub (English as a Second Language Substitute)
Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher's lesson plan.
What substitute teachers, short-term do
Typical tasks
- Enforce school and class rules to maintain order in the classroom.
- Answer students' questions.
- Follow lesson plans designed by absent teachers.
- Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
- Supervise students during activities outside the classroom, such as recess, lunch, and field trips.
- Teach social skills to students, such as communication, conflict resolution, and etiquette.
- Tutor or assist students individually or in small groups.
- Distribute or collect tests or homework assignments.
- Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students.
- Teach a variety of subjects, such as English, mathematics, and social studies.
- Operate equipment such as computers or audio-visual aids to supplement presentations.
- Counsel students with adjustment or academic problems.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary
The median annual wage for substitute teachers, short-term is $41,670 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $28,560 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $65,790. The mean annual wage is $46,420.
The mean hourly wage of $22.00 is 3.0× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $41,670 → in 3 years $45,500 → in 5 years $48,300 → in 10 years $55,900 (10-year range $48,100–$64,900). The model assumes pay growth of +3.0% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Substitute Teachers, Short-Term? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become substitute teachers, short-term
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as substitute teachers, short-term
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.