Jobs Similar to Substitute Teachers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to substitute teachers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Kindergarten Teachers, Elementary School Teachers and Special Education Teachers (Middle School).
Substitute Teachers: $41,670 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
84% similar · $62,680 (+50%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
83% similar · $63,970 (+54%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Special Education Teachers, Middle School
83% similar · $66,810 (+60%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
82% similar · $72,040 (+73%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
82% similar · $74,260 (+78%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
82% similar · $64,370 (+54%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
81% similar · $61,540 (+48%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
81% similar · $38,140 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 9Tutors
79% similar · $43,350 (+4%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
79% similar · $66,270 (+59%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Special Education Teachers, Preschool
79% similar · $64,830 (+56%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
78% similar · $64,330 (+54%) · Graduate degree
- 13Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
78% similar · $65,030 (+56%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
77% similar · $42,910 (+3%) · Graduate degree
- 15Nannies
77% similar · $34,980 (broader group) · High school
- 16Child, Family, and School Social Workers
77% similar · $59,550 (+43%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Instructional Coordinators
77% similar · $77,440 (+86%) · Graduate degree
- 18English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $78,760 (+89%) · Graduate degree
- 19Childcare Workers
76% similar · $34,980 (−16%) · High school
- 20Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $75,870 (+82%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than substitute teachers.
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School82% similar · $74,260 (+78%)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education82% similar · $72,040 (+73%)
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School83% similar · $66,810 (+60%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School79% similar · $66,270 (+59%)
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool79% similar · $64,830 (+56%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School78% similar · $65,030 (+56%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for substitute teachers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where substitute teachers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (76)
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists (74)
- Social and Human Service Assistants (74)
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary (74)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (73)
- Recreation Workers (73)
- Music Therapists (70)
- Psychiatric Technicians (70)
- Nannies (62)
Questions about jobs like substitute teachers
What jobs are most similar to substitute teachers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Kindergarten Teachers (84% similar), Elementary School Teachers (83% similar), Special Education Teachers (Middle School) (83% similar), Secondary School Teachers (82% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (82% similar).
Which jobs like substitute teachers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, English Language and Literature Teachers ($78,760, +89%; usually a graduate degree), Instructional Coordinators ($77,440, +86%; usually a graduate degree) and Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers ($75,870, +82%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with substitute teachers ($41,670). Without more preparation than substitute teachers usually need: Special Education Teachers (Secondary School), Secondary School Teachers and Special Education Teachers (Middle School).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.