Substitute Teacher Pay

Substitute teacher pay varies more than almost any other job in education. A non-certified substitute working in Mississippi can earn as little as $65 a day. A standard substitute in Seattle pulls in $222 — and $247 if it's a Friday. That's a 3x gap inside the same job title, in the same country, in the same school year. This guide breaks down current substitute teacher salary data for every state, plus Washington DC. We've pulled the most recent district pay schedules, state statutes, and salary aggregator data for the 2025–2026 school year, and we cite a primary source for every figure in the table below.

 

How Much Do Substitute Teachers Make?

 

Average Substitute Teacher Pay in 2026 The national average substitute teacher pay is about $145 per day for a non-certified day-to-day substitute, based on Indeed's most recent aggregate (Indeed). ZipRecruiter's 2026 figures imply a slightly higher national daily rate (~$162/day, derived from a $42,244 annual average) once you adjust for typical paid days (ZipRecruiter). A few baseline numbers to anchor the rest of this article: • National average daily pay (non-certified): $140–$150/day • National average hourly pay: $20.31/hour (ZipRecruiter, 2026) • National average annual salary (full-time-equivalent): $42,244 (ZipRecruiter, 2026) • Typical daily range across states: $75–$260 • Certified substitute teacher premium: Most states pay certified subs 25–50% more than noncertified Substitute teacher pay rose sharply after 2022. About 80% of the 148 largest U.S. school districts increased substitute pay between January 2022 and the 2022–23 school year, with average starting hourly wages climbing from roughly $15.50 to $18.40 — a 19% jump that has largely held into 2025–26 as districts compete for a thinned-out sub pool. About 35% of public schools still report being "extremely concerned" about finding substitutes (Devlin Peck, 2025), which continues to push pay upward in shortage regions.

 

Substitute Teacher Pay by State 2026

 

The data below shows the typical daily pay range, a single state-average figure, and a callout for a major district or state statute in each state. Figures represent non-certified day-to-day substitute teachers unless otherwise noted, because that's the rate most readers are searching for. Certified, long-term, and specialty rates are typically 25–60% higher.

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Alabama

Daily Pay Range: $75–$110
State Average: $85/day
Notable District / Statute: Urban districts like Birmingham and Huntsville can reach ~$140/day, while many districts remain closer to $75/day.

Alaska

Daily Pay Range: $175–$285
State Average: $225/day
Notable District / Statute: Anchorage School District pays approximately $175 for non-certified substitutes, $225 for certified substitutes, and up to $285 for long-term assignments.

Arizona

Daily Pay Range: $125–$160
State Average: $140/day
Notable District / Statute: Most major Arizona districts cluster around $140/day for certificated substitute teachers.

Arkansas

Daily Pay Range: $80–$135
State Average: $105/day
Notable District / Statute: Little Rock School District pays around $135/day for certified substitutes.

California

Daily Pay Range: $150–$260
State Average: $200/day
Notable District / Statute: Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) pays $261/day base and up to $353/day for extended assignments lasting 21+ days.

Colorado

Daily Pay Range: $130–$275
State Average: $185/day
Notable District / Statute: Denver Public Schools offers one of the highest regular substitute teacher rates in the country at approximately $275/day.

Connecticut

Daily Pay Range: $118–$200
State Average: $165/day
Notable District / Statute: Hartford substitute teacher rates vary significantly by qualification level, ranging from $118/day for high school diploma substitutes to $287/day for long-term certified substitutes.

Delaware

Daily Pay Range: $79–$179
State Average: $130/day
Notable District / Statute: Delaware state law effective January 2025 sets minimum substitute teacher rates by class level: $179/day for Class A, $99/day for Class B, and $79/day for Class C substitutes.

Florida

Daily Pay Range: $100–$160
State Average: $125/day
Notable District / Statute: Miami-Dade County Public Schools pays around $145/day, though Florida overall remains among the lower-paying states nationally.

Georgia

Daily Pay Range: $90–$155
State Average: $120/day
Notable District / Statute: Fulton County Schools near Atlanta averages approximately $137/day, while many rural districts pay closer to $90–$110/day.

Hawaii

Daily Pay Range: $172–$210
State Average: $195/day
Notable District / Statute: Hawaii operates as a single statewide district, with SB1192 establishing substitute teacher minimums through the 2028–2029 school year.

Illinois

Daily Pay Range: $130–$200
State Average: $165/day
Notable District / Statute: Chicago Public Schools pays around $160/day for regular substitutes and up to $240/day for cadre substitute teachers.

Massachusetts

Daily Pay Range: $125–$220
State Average: $170/day
Notable District / Statute: Boston Public Schools substitute teachers can earn around $200/day.

Minnesota

Daily Pay Range: $150–$220
State Average: $185/day
Notable District / Statute: Teachers On Call in the Twin Cities reports average substitute teacher pay around $205/day, significantly above the national average.

Mississippi

Daily Pay Range: $60–$100
State Average: $75/day
Notable District / Statute: Mississippi is consistently among the lowest-paying states for substitute teachers, with some districts averaging near $65/day.

Nebraska

Daily Pay Range: $130–$270
State Average: $185/day
Notable District / Statute: Omaha Public Schools pays up to $260/day for short-term substitutes and $270/day for long-term assignments.

New Jersey

Daily Pay Range: $130–$220
State Average: $175/day
Notable District / Statute: Newark substitute teacher pay can approach $200/day in some assignments.

New York

Daily Pay Range: $130–$225
State Average: $199/day
Notable District / Statute: New York City Department of Education substitute teachers earn approximately $224.83/day under the 2025–2026 UFT contract.

North Carolina

Daily Pay Range: $80–$175
State Average: $120/day
Notable District / Statute: Wake County pays approximately $128/day for non-certified substitutes and $138/day for certified substitutes.

Oregon

Daily Pay Range: $180–$290
State Average: $200/day
Notable District / Statute: Portland Public Schools pays approximately $266/day standard and up to $288/day for extended assignments.

Pennsylvania

Daily Pay Range: $130–$200
State Average: $160/day
Notable District / Statute: Philadelphia-area certified substitute teachers can earn approximately $190/day.

Texas

Daily Pay Range: $90–$150
State Average: $115/day
Notable District / Statute: Houston ISD substitute teachers typically earn $95–$120/day base, with some long-term positions paying up to $150/day.

Virginia

Daily Pay Range: $110–$200
State Average: $165/day
Notable District / Statute: Fairfax County Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Schools both offer substitute teacher rates near $190–$200/day.

Washington

Daily Pay Range: $175–$250
State Average: $222/day
Notable District / Statute: Seattle Public Schools pays around $222/day standard, with special “Super Rate” Fridays reaching approximately $247/day.

Wisconsin

Daily Pay Range: $140–$245
State Average: $185/day
Notable District / Statute: Madison schools pay approximately $195/day for shorter assignments and up to $245/day for longer consecutive placements.

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Disclaimer: Substitute teacher pay rates listed on this page are estimates based on publicly available district pay schedules, job postings, staffing agencies, and statewide data sources as of 2025–2026. Actual substitute teacher pay may vary based on school district, assignment type, certifications, experience, subject area, long-term placement status, and local demand. Rates are subject to change at any time. Please verify current pay directly with the hiring school district, staffing agency, or employer before accepting a position.

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