Substitute Teachers Salary by State
The national median pay for substitute teachers is $41,670 a year. By state, it ranges from $22,340 in Mississippi to $66,920 in Alaska.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $28,560
- 25th percentile
- $34,170
- Median
- $41,670
- 75th percentile
- $54,890
- Top 10%
- $65,790
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 524,770 jobs.
Median pay in 49 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $66,920 | +61% | $38,250 | $132,530 | 1,420 |
| 2 | California | $60,300 | +45% | $39,040 | $78,670 | 115,660 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $58,530 | +40% | $45,690 | $60,620 | 3,990 |
| 4 | Oregon | $58,280 | +40% | $54,870 | $74,290 | 8,090 |
| 5 | Washington | $55,740 | +34% | $45,790 | $67,700 | 14,820 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $50,390 | +21% | $37,750 | $75,890 | 8,660 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $49,790 | +19% | $46,450 | $51,090 | 750 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $49,020 | +18% | $41,440 | $75,290 | 4,840 |
| 9 | Maryland | $46,470 | +12% | $32,870 | $47,360 | 7,610 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $45,590 | +9% | $36,410 | $60,640 | 1,910 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $44,870 | +8% | $30,470 | $63,930 | 22,360 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $43,950 | +5% | $35,740 | $59,890 | 8,420 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $43,780 | +5% | $34,170 | $58,670 | 17,100 |
| 14 | New York | $43,490 | +4% | $35,090 | $60,010 | 36,090 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $42,570 | +2% | $33,780 | $55,080 | 420 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $41,350 | −1% | $33,590 | $58,930 | 8,410 |
| 17 | Michigan | $39,500 | −5% | $29,720 | $61,370 | 3,600 |
| 18 | Illinois | $39,410 | −5% | $31,200 | $58,040 | 17,220 |
| 19 | Virginia | $39,020 | −6% | $27,670 | $53,540 | 24,350 |
| 20 | Georgia | $38,870 | −7% | $20,800 | $45,900 | 16,400 |
| 21 | Arizona | $38,500 | −8% | $31,170 | $50,290 | 4,710 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $38,460 | −8% | $35,050 | $63,980 | 5,950 |
| 23 | Vermont | $38,200 | −8% | $31,470 | $54,120 | 1,400 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $37,690 | −10% | $28,080 | $61,450 | 3,430 |
| 25 | Maine | $37,440 | −10% | $31,110 | $49,590 | Not published |
| 26 | Iowa | $37,230 | −11% | $30,980 | $47,770 | 7,300 |
| 27 | Ohio | $37,150 | −11% | $28,480 | $47,470 | 9,140 |
| 28 | Florida | $37,080 | −11% | $30,300 | $60,520 | 25,270 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $36,990 | −11% | $30,600 | $45,590 | 2,230 |
| 30 | Delaware | $36,510 | −12% | $31,200 | $50,590 | Not published |
| 31 | Utah | $36,490 | −12% | $24,710 | $53,780 | 4,710 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $36,400 | −13% | $30,170 | $43,960 | 3,510 |
| 33 | Indiana | $36,360 | −13% | $28,540 | $56,330 | 9,920 |
| 34 | Kansas | $36,190 | −13% | $28,980 | $44,900 | 9,360 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $34,990 | −16% | $28,870 | $46,490 | 1,070 |
| 36 | Missouri | $34,790 | −17% | $29,220 | $49,850 | 11,480 |
| 37 | Idaho | $34,080 | −18% | $29,110 | $45,240 | 1,800 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $33,780 | −19% | $28,390 | $45,040 | 20,360 |
| 39 | Texas | $32,040 | −23% | $22,870 | $39,090 | 29,150 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $30,400 | −27% | $22,460 | $78,690 | 7,700 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $29,730 | −29% | $24,120 | $64,680 | 320 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $29,500 | −29% | $21,570 | $35,970 | 7,690 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $29,230 | −30% | $24,440 | $36,040 | 2,560 |
| 44 | Montana | $28,050 | −33% | $22,930 | $38,230 | 2,370 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $27,840 | −33% | $25,560 | $34,700 | 1,610 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $27,370 | −34% | $20,730 | $44,350 | 1,090 |
| 47 | Alabama | $25,340 | −39% | $18,170 | $30,020 | 9,290 |
| 48 | Nevada | $24,960 | −40% | $24,960 | $40,620 | 6,600 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $23,770 | −43% | $18,300 | $42,550 | 4,990 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $22,340 | −46% | $16,430 | $33,320 | 2,390 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Substitute Teachers salary questions
Which state pays substitute teachers the most?
Alaska, with a median of $66,920 a year (+61% vs. the national median of $41,670). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays substitute teachers the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $22,340 a year (−46% vs. national).
Where do most substitute teachers work?
California has the most jobs, about 115,660, with a median of $60,300.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.