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Education

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher's lesson plan.

Median salary (BLS)

$41,670

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$29k – $66k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$40,100–$150,700

Time to qualify

4.3 yr

Renewal

$20/yr

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    State teaching certification

    License

    Approved educator-prep program, pedagogy & subject exams, background check, and a state application.

    $100–$700 · 3 months · varies by state · renews every 5 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Substitute Teachers, Short-Term" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

    Entry / Junior

    $28,560

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

    Established

    $41,670

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

    Senior

    $53,730

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Education

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.