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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

Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

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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.