321 metro areas

Substitute Teacher, Short-Term Salary by City (2026)

Substitute teachers earn the most in Anchorage, AK, an average of $85,180 a year, against $46,420 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Omaha, NE-IA ($83,730 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $46,420BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $85,180Anchorage, AK
Best after cost of living: $83,730Omaha, NE-IA
Metro areas: 321With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for substitute teachers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Anchorage, AK$85,180
Omaha, NE-IA$76,960
Napa, CA$72,780
Fresno, CA$72,220
Modesto, CA$70,990
San Jose, CA$69,430
Vallejo, CA$67,620
Stockton, CA$66,410
Chico, CA$65,400
Bakersfield, CA$65,040

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for substitute teachers
Item	Value
Anchorage, AK	$85,180
Omaha, NE-IA	$76,960
Napa, CA	$72,780
Fresno, CA	$72,220
Modesto, CA	$70,990
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$69,430
Vallejo, CA	$67,620
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$66,410
Chico, CA	$65,400
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$65,040

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Omaha, NE-IA$76,960 nominal$83,730
Anchorage, AK$85,180 nominal$80,800
Fresno, CA$72,220 nominal$70,690
Modesto, CA$70,990 nominal$68,190
St. Cloud, MN$59,220 nominal$67,580
Sheboygan, WI$61,650 nominal$65,580
Duluth, MN-WI$58,030 nominal$65,370
Napa, CA$72,780 nominal$64,660
Chico, CA$65,400 nominal$64,630
Bakersfield, CA$65,040 nominal$64,470

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for substitute teachers
Item	Value
Omaha, NE-IA	$83,730
Anchorage, AK	$80,800
Fresno, CA	$70,690
Modesto, CA	$68,190
St. Cloud, MN	$67,580
Sheboygan, WI	$65,580
Duluth, MN-WI	$65,370
Napa, CA	$64,660
Chico, CA	$64,630
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$64,470

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Substitute Teacher, Short-Term salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Substitute Teacher, Short-Term pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	Anchorage, AK	$85,180	$55,950	$99,550	$80,800
2	Omaha, NE-IA	$76,960	$31,950	$99,130	$83,730
3	Napa, CA	$72,780	$58,240	$79,930	$64,660
4	Fresno, CA	$72,220	$43,390	$86,420	$70,690
5	Modesto, CA	$70,990	$57,050	$77,850	$68,190
6	San Jose, CA	$69,430	$55,490	$76,290	$62,880
7	Vallejo, CA	$67,620	$54,620	$74,030	$62,330
8	Stockton, CA	$66,410	$51,980	$73,530	$63,190
9	Chico, CA	$65,400	$52,770	$71,610	$64,630
10	Bakersfield, CA	$65,040	$52,540	$71,180	$64,470
11	Oxnard, CA	$64,250	$46,950	$72,760	$58,130
12	Santa Rosa, CA	$63,860	$55,000	$68,220	$59,250
13	Salinas, CA	$63,540	$44,910	$72,740	$58,270
14	San Francisco, CA	$63,480	$45,010	$72,570	$54,910
15	Portland, OR-WA	$62,150	$51,440	$67,430	$58,950
16	Sheboygan, WI	$61,650	$34,280	$75,150	$65,580
17	San Diego, CA	$61,440	$45,590	$69,240	$54,910
18	Los Angeles, CA	$61,070	$40,580	$71,160	$53,770
19	Sacramento, CA	$61,030	$45,510	$68,660	$57,210
20	Riverside, CA	$61,010	$49,840	$66,500	$57,320
21	Yuba City, CA	$61,010	$46,760	$68,040	$58,530
22	Longview, WA	$60,740	$57,930	$62,110	$62,270
23	Seattle, WA	$60,740	$52,520	$64,770	$54,660
24	Medford, OR	$60,510	$52,580	$64,400	$59,660
25	Hanford, CA	$60,260	$45,990	$67,290	$59,300
26	Merced, CA	$60,240	$46,630	$66,930	$61,300
27	Santa Maria, CA	$59,400	$44,320	$66,850	$54,600
28	Kahului, HI	$59,320	$49,500	$64,170	$54,230
29	St. Cloud, MN	$59,220	$39,330	$68,990	$67,580
30	Eugene, OR	$59,130	$49,110	$64,060	$58,220
31	Santa Cruz, CA	$58,800	$50,670	$62,820	$53,510
32	Jackson, MI	$58,530	$32,510	$71,360	$63,770
33	Albany, OR	$58,410	$45,180	$64,920	$57,210
34	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$58,340	$42,080	$66,370	$61,950
35	Duluth, MN-WI	$58,030	$35,710	$69,010	$65,370
36	San Luis Obispo, CA	$57,840	$46,650	$63,360	$53,260
37	Bend, OR	$57,760	$54,020	$59,610	$55,750
38	Rochester, MN	$57,570	$49,360	$61,630	$63,390
39	Columbia, SC	$57,200	$25,580	$72,760	$61,070
40	Corvallis, OR	$56,870	$43,330	$63,520	$54,670
41	Beckley, WV	$56,780	$47,150	$61,530	$64,250
42	Redding, CA	$55,850	$45,570	$60,900	$55,470
43	Bremerton, WA	$55,620	$52,730	$57,030	$52,670
44	Mount Vernon, WA	$55,370	$51,270	$57,410	$54,050
45	Visalia, CA	$54,500	$38,250	$62,480	$54,600
46	El Centro, CA	$54,310	$42,950	$59,900	$57,060
47	Urban Honolulu, HI	$54,040	$44,930	$58,510	$48,700
48	Bellingham, WA	$53,460	$47,960	$56,160	$51,740
49	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$53,210	$38,150	$60,610	$50,760
50	La Crosse, WI-MN	$53,140	$36,630	$61,280	$57,910
51	Champaign, IL	$52,850	$34,130	$62,070	$57,010
52	Walla Walla, WA	$52,730	$50,940	$53,600	$53,520
53	Charleston, WV	$52,170	$41,890	$57,240	$58,800
54	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$52,060	$43,180	$56,430	$58,880
55	Erie, PA	$51,900	$35,030	$60,220	$57,060
56	Reading, PA	$51,650	$36,460	$59,110	$53,210
57	Yakima, WA	$51,420	$46,630	$53,790	$53,820
58	Olympia, WA	$51,110	$47,280	$52,980	$49,300
59	Fond du Lac, WI	$50,940	$35,090	$58,740	$55,590
60	Bridgeport, CT	$50,770	$36,630	$57,740	$47,510
61	Morgantown, WV	$50,730	$38,290	$56,870	$54,360
62	Parkersburg, WV	$50,460	$45,140	$53,080	$57,960
63	Green Bay, WI	$50,210	$44,530	$53,020	$53,940
64	Miami, FL	$49,960	$34,070	$57,780	$43,770
65	Appleton, WI	$49,500	$34,860	$56,720	$53,560
66	Fargo, ND-MN	$49,500	$31,350	$58,450	$54,470
67	Charleston, SC	$49,420	$30,660	$58,660	$48,950
68	Spokane, WA	$49,420	$42,580	$52,790	$49,250
69	New York, NY-NJ	$48,730	$36,590	$54,700	$43,290
70	Wheeling, WV-OH	$48,710	$31,950	$56,970	$55,150
71	Kennewick, WA	$48,510	$43,560	$50,940	$48,470
72	Traverse City, MI	$48,090	$34,550	$54,750	$51,500
73	Glens Falls, NY	$47,920	$36,690	$53,460	$50,510
74	Wenatchee, WA	$47,740	$43,870	$49,630	$45,970
75	Providence, RI-MA	$47,550	$37,190	$52,640	$46,720
76	Bloomington, IL	$47,380	$31,320	$55,290	$50,650
77	Sebring, FL	$47,280	$30,490	$55,560	$51,130
78	Madison, WI	$47,240	$37,340	$52,120	$48,560
79	Milwaukee, WI	$46,920	$36,550	$52,040	$48,400
80	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$46,860	$32,930	$53,710	$54,200
81	Springfield, OH	$46,680	$29,100	$55,330	$51,590
82	Boston, MA-NH	$46,610	$34,990	$52,350	$43,050
83	Detroit, MI	$46,550	$33,840	$52,810	$46,410
84	Albany, NY	$46,280	$34,380	$52,150	$46,480
85	Kingston, NY	$46,240	$35,630	$51,460	$45,910
86	Hartford, CT	$46,200	$35,690	$51,380	$44,970
87	Muskegon, MI	$45,880	$31,970	$52,750	$49,590
88	Weirton, WV-OH	$45,780	$29,160	$53,960	$51,420
89	Lebanon, PA	$45,740	$40,290	$48,420	$49,070
90	Springfield, MA	$45,720	$34,530	$51,230	$47,590
91	Kalamazoo, MI	$45,550	$30,430	$53,020	$48,030
92	Trenton, NJ	$45,470	$36,920	$49,670	$44,070
93	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$45,430	$37,150	$49,500	$41,720
94	Utica, NY	$45,320	$33,990	$50,920	$48,900
95	Racine, WI	$45,260	$35,690	$49,960	$47,160
96	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$44,970	$34,720	$50,020	$43,850
97	Chicago, IL-IN	$44,740	$34,240	$49,920	$43,190
98	Lansing, MI	$44,450	$32,470	$50,340	$46,790
99	Syracuse, NY	$44,450	$35,280	$48,980	$46,430
100	Rochester, NY	$44,350	$35,530	$48,690	$45,710
101	Kenosha, WI	$44,320	$40,290	$46,320	$43,830
102	Atlantic City, NJ	$44,240	$36,230	$48,190	$44,750
103	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$44,240	$31,100	$50,710	$45,170
104	Flint, MI	$44,010	$30,760	$50,540	$47,310
105	Watertown, NY	$43,970	$36,000	$47,880	$50,140
106	Logan, UT-ID	$43,910	$28,850	$51,330	$45,770
107	Terre Haute, IN	$43,850	$27,350	$51,960	$49,940
108	Binghamton, NY	$43,560	$34,720	$47,920	$46,910
109	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$43,470	$34,440	$47,920	$50,160
110	Norwich, CT	$43,450	$36,250	$47,010	$43,260
111	Barnstable Town, MA	$43,390	$33,780	$48,130	$44,120
112	Burlington, VT	$43,330	$34,670	$47,590	$42,920
113	Oshkosh, WI	$43,310	$35,210	$47,300	$46,610
114	Decatur, IL	$43,240	$36,360	$46,630	$48,900
115	Phoenix, AZ	$43,240	$33,490	$48,050	$41,850
116	Pittsfield, MA	$43,240	$36,190	$46,720	$45,470
117	Buffalo, NY	$43,220	$35,170	$47,200	$45,090
118	Ithaca, NY	$43,220	$34,570	$47,490	$41,830
119	Portland, ME	$43,200	$35,240	$47,110	$42,410
120	Kiryas Joel, NY	$42,990	$34,470	$47,170	$39,290
121	Kokomo, IN	$42,740	$31,260	$48,400	$47,680
122	Elmira, NY	$42,370	$32,780	$47,090	$44,880
123	Harrisburg, PA	$42,270	$32,070	$47,300	$42,850
124	Waterbury, CT	$41,970	$35,320	$45,260	$42,060
125	Allentown, PA-NJ	$41,950	$32,160	$46,780	$41,960
126	Amherst Town, MA	$41,870	$34,240	$45,640	$41,770
127	Port St. Lucie, FL	$41,870	$31,970	$46,740	$41,770
128	Ann Arbor, MI	$41,810	$30,580	$47,340	$41,450
129	Baltimore, MD	$41,700	$32,950	$46,010	$39,910
130	York, PA	$41,680	$32,120	$46,380	$43,420
131	Midland, MI	$41,620	$31,200	$46,740	$45,280
132	Vineland, NJ	$41,520	$34,490	$44,970	$43,260
133	Ogden, UT	$41,500	$26,480	$48,900	$41,360
134	Rockford, IL	$41,330	$34,170	$44,870	$44,850
135	Cedar Rapids, IA	$41,250	$35,110	$44,280	$46,370
136	Sebastian, FL	$41,200	$30,080	$46,700	$41,910
137	Salt Lake City, UT	$41,180	$29,560	$46,900	$40,830
138	Cape Coral, FL	$41,140	$29,220	$47,010	$40,200
139	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$41,140	$28,540	$47,340	$44,200
140	Naples, FL	$41,140	$36,190	$43,580	$39,860
141	Columbus, OH	$40,980	$32,930	$44,950	$42,920
142	Warner Robins, GA	$40,980	$36,030	$43,410	$43,690
143	New Haven, CT	$40,960	$35,050	$43,870	$39,170
144	Grand Rapids, MI	$40,730	$29,910	$46,050	$42,630
145	Lawrence, KS	$40,660	$32,760	$44,550	$45,060
146	Lexington Park, MD	$40,640	$32,010	$44,890	$40,330
147	Worcester, MA	$40,640	$33,240	$44,300	$39,640
148	Kansas City, MO-KS	$40,600	$33,130	$44,280	$43,870
149	Fayetteville, NC	$40,390	$30,950	$45,050	$43,910
150	Greensboro, NC	$40,390	$31,870	$44,600	$43,490
151	Muncie, IN	$40,390	$28,160	$46,400	$45,820
152	Scranton, PA	$40,390	$31,280	$44,890	$43,170
153	Des Moines, IA	$40,370	$36,210	$42,430	$44,020
154	Springfield, IL	$40,290	$31,220	$44,760	$43,440
155	Pittsburgh, PA	$40,210	$29,870	$45,280	$42,470
156	Orlando, FL	$40,080	$30,950	$44,600	$39,520
157	Indianapolis, IN	$39,830	$29,060	$45,140	$41,620
158	Flagstaff, AZ	$39,730	$33,800	$42,660	$39,600
159	Salisbury, MD	$39,670	$31,490	$43,700	$41,490
160	North Port, FL	$39,540	$32,680	$42,930	$38,610
161	St. Louis, MO-IL	$39,480	$31,660	$43,330	$41,520
162	Wausau, WI	$39,460	$35,780	$41,270	$42,590
163	Gettysburg, PA	$39,330	$25,810	$46,010	$41,240
164	Kankakee, IL	$39,270	$31,570	$43,080	$40,740
165	Santa Fe, NM	$39,210	$33,430	$42,060	$39,700
166	Winchester, VA-WV	$39,150	$29,910	$43,680	$40,590
167	Evansville, IN	$39,080	$26,810	$45,120	$42,700
168	Fort Wayne, IN	$38,900	$28,410	$44,080	$42,020
169	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$38,810	$30,910	$42,700	$41,240
170	Charlottesville, VA	$38,730	$29,830	$43,120	$39,060
171	Davenport, IA-IL	$38,650	$34,400	$40,730	$43,390
172	Altoona, PA	$38,600	$26,540	$44,530	$43,130
173	Cheyenne, WY	$38,600	$38,080	$38,880	$40,000
174	Iowa City, IA	$38,600	$34,650	$40,560	$42,180
175	Lewiston, ME	$38,560	$31,840	$41,870	$40,700
176	Lancaster, PA	$38,500	$28,370	$43,470	$39,180
177	Tucson, AZ	$38,400	$31,660	$41,720	$39,630
178	Richmond, VA	$38,380	$32,800	$41,120	$39,220
179	Prescott Valley, AZ	$38,210	$32,410	$41,060	$38,890
180	Dover, DE	$38,130	$31,200	$41,560	$39,100
181	South Bend, IN-MI	$38,080	$26,750	$43,680	$41,010
182	Jacksonville, FL	$38,060	$30,720	$41,680	$38,260
183	Elkhart, IN	$37,880	$31,870	$40,810	$41,940
184	Atlanta, GA	$37,860	$28,930	$42,240	$37,840
185	Waterloo, IA	$37,860	$32,860	$40,330	$43,490
186	Raleigh, NC	$37,790	$29,890	$41,700	$38,500
187	Albuquerque, NM	$37,770	$32,340	$40,460	$39,530
188	Farmington, NM	$37,770	$30,140	$41,540	$43,060
189	Sierra Vista, AZ	$37,730	$30,970	$41,080	$42,280
190	Saginaw, MI	$37,710	$31,050	$40,980	$41,490
191	Springfield, MO	$37,610	$29,330	$41,680	$42,460
192	Cleveland, OH	$37,590	$29,140	$41,750	$40,020
193	Las Cruces, NM	$37,590	$34,630	$39,040	$41,670
194	Odessa, TX	$37,590	$23,960	$44,300	$40,030
195	Manchester, NH	$37,400	$30,720	$40,680	$35,400
196	Palm Bay, FL	$37,400	$32,010	$40,060	$37,400
197	Ames, IA	$37,210	$29,970	$40,770	$41,890
198	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$37,210	$30,870	$40,350	$37,860
199	Bloomington, IN	$37,070	$28,390	$41,350	$38,990
200	Tampa, FL	$37,070	$29,850	$40,620	$36,740
201	Roanoke, VA	$36,960	$29,220	$40,770	$39,480
202	Canton, OH	$36,920	$27,330	$41,660	$41,290
203	Provo, UT	$36,840	$27,500	$41,450	$37,500
204	Boise City, ID	$36,820	$31,120	$39,640	$37,420
205	Staunton, VA	$36,800	$27,410	$41,430	$40,380
206	Dayton, OH	$36,770	$31,240	$39,480	$39,670
207	Bangor, ME	$36,750	$30,760	$39,710	$38,080
208	Austin, TX	$36,690	$29,930	$40,020	$37,410
209	Columbia, MO	$36,630	$28,620	$40,560	$40,960
210	Michigan City, IN	$36,630	$29,870	$39,940	$39,950
211	Akron, OH	$36,500	$29,270	$40,080	$39,090
212	Topeka, KS	$36,500	$30,830	$39,310	$41,090
213	Dallas, TX	$36,380	$28,330	$40,350	$35,290
214	Ocala, FL	$36,190	$33,490	$37,540	$38,000
215	Asheville, NC	$36,130	$30,560	$38,850	$37,440
216	Brunswick, GA	$36,130	$27,890	$40,160	$41,190
217	Lincoln, NE	$36,130	$33,680	$37,340	$39,450
218	Greenville, SC	$36,090	$25,650	$41,230	$38,700
219	Manhattan, KS	$36,090	$33,110	$37,540	$40,030
220	Wilmington, NC	$36,030	$30,780	$38,600	$37,370
221	Yuma, AZ	$35,940	$30,580	$38,580	$38,770
222	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$35,920	$28,480	$39,580	$37,660
223	Sandusky, OH	$35,880	$29,000	$39,270	$40,190
224	Twin Falls, ID	$35,800	$27,710	$39,790	$38,870
225	Pensacola, FL	$35,650	$28,890	$39,000	$36,480
226	Blacksburg, VA	$35,590	$26,670	$39,980	$38,390
227	Hinesville, GA	$35,480	$21,150	$42,560	$37,770
228	Deltona, FL	$35,440	$30,370	$37,940	$35,670
229	Jefferson City, MO	$35,320	$29,450	$38,230	$40,150
230	Gainesville, GA	$35,280	$25,650	$40,000	$36,460
231	Monroe, LA	$35,260	$16,410	$44,530	$42,180
232	Peoria, IL	$35,110	$31,200	$37,040	$38,480
233	Wichita, KS	$35,090	$31,390	$36,900	$39,450
234	Clarksville, TN-KY	$34,990	$28,540	$38,150	$38,470
235	Charlotte, NC-SC	$34,880	$27,930	$38,290	$35,830
236	Winston, NC	$34,820	$30,660	$36,880	$37,830
237	Durham, NC	$34,800	$30,330	$37,000	$35,670
238	Lafayette, IN	$34,800	$24,710	$39,790	$37,250
239	Youngstown, OH	$34,550	$27,230	$38,150	$39,530
240	Savannah, GA	$34,280	$23,500	$39,580	$36,010
241	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$34,240	$28,680	$36,980	$39,640
242	St. George, UT	$34,220	$25,770	$38,380	$35,160
243	Lima, OH	$34,010	$29,930	$36,000	$37,930
244	Toledo, OH	$33,800	$28,230	$36,520	$36,960
245	Athens, GA	$33,490	$28,870	$35,760	$35,880
246	Hickory, NC	$33,450	$29,120	$35,570	$37,800
247	Niles, MI	$33,430	$26,060	$37,070	$36,190
248	Pinehurst, NC	$33,360	$27,560	$36,210	$37,760
249	Mansfield, OH	$32,880	$28,410	$35,090	$37,000
250	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$32,740	$29,120	$34,530	$38,040
251	Houston, TX	$32,680	$24,210	$36,840	$33,130
252	Corpus Christi, TX	$32,660	$23,340	$37,250	$35,240
253	New Orleans, LA	$32,490	$24,440	$36,440	$35,090
254	Albany, GA	$32,410	$20,180	$38,440	$36,970
255	Panama City, FL	$32,390	$30,910	$33,110	$33,290
256	Crestview, FL	$32,030	$31,160	$32,470	$33,010
257	Bozeman, MT	$32,010	$27,100	$34,420	$31,230
258	Joplin, MO-KS	$31,890	$29,520	$33,030	$37,200
259	Gainesville, FL	$31,820	$28,370	$33,530	$32,890
260	Jacksonville, NC	$31,740	$27,560	$33,800	$34,470
261	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$31,680	$22,690	$36,110	$34,640
262	Midland, TX	$31,640	$28,430	$33,200	$33,030
263	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$31,570	$24,420	$35,110	$34,250
264	Billings, MT	$31,490	$26,690	$33,860	$33,670
265	Fayetteville, AR	$31,260	$28,020	$32,860	$34,220
266	Rapid City, SD	$31,220	$26,080	$33,760	$35,020
267	Tallahassee, FL	$31,160	$29,180	$32,140	$33,180
268	Sumter, SC	$31,140	$18,990	$37,130	$35,380
269	Kingsport, TN-VA	$31,100	$28,660	$32,300	$35,980
270	Rocky Mount, NC	$31,100	$27,540	$32,840	$35,340
271	Nashville, TN	$31,030	$27,660	$32,700	$32,210
272	Shreveport, LA	$31,010	$22,240	$35,320	$36,580
273	Greenville, NC	$30,990	$25,810	$33,550	$35,060
274	Baton Rouge, LA	$30,720	$23,860	$34,110	$33,840
275	Macon, GA	$30,720	$18,510	$36,730	$34,700
276	Lynchburg, VA	$30,600	$26,960	$32,390	$34,240
277	San Antonio, TX	$30,580	$22,820	$34,400	$32,290
278	Missoula, MT	$30,430	$25,170	$33,010	$31,550
279	Little Rock, AR	$30,280	$26,810	$31,990	$33,880
280	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$30,240	$27,460	$31,620	$33,370
281	Amarillo, TX	$30,060	$23,820	$33,110	$32,740
282	Laredo, TX	$30,060	$23,440	$33,320	$34,570
283	Helena, MT	$30,040	$24,560	$32,740	$31,400
284	Abilene, TX	$30,010	$28,430	$30,800	$33,210
285	Hilton Head Island, SC	$29,950	$22,980	$33,380	$30,560
286	Oklahoma City, OK	$29,870	$20,820	$34,340	$33,040
287	Jackson, TN	$29,760	$20,280	$34,440	$34,800
288	El Paso, TX	$29,490	$21,420	$33,470	$32,800
289	Waco, TX	$29,100	$23,400	$31,910	$31,440
290	Tyler, TX	$28,970	$21,110	$32,840	$31,440
291	Jackson, MS	$28,540	$19,510	$32,990	$32,050
292	Brownsville, TX	$28,520	$21,470	$31,970	$33,170
293	Great Falls, MT	$28,390	$24,360	$30,390	$29,310
294	Sherman, TX	$28,230	$20,650	$31,950	$30,110
295	Columbus, GA-AL	$28,160	$17,640	$33,340	$31,540
296	Las Vegas, NV	$28,060	$24,960	$29,580	$28,000
297	McAllen, TX	$27,930	$24,790	$29,490	$32,520
298	Augusta, GA-SC	$27,910	$19,280	$32,180	$30,370
299	Tulsa, OK	$27,770	$21,320	$30,950	$31,130
300	Enid, OK	$27,710	$19,360	$31,820	$32,880
301	Johnson City, TN	$27,410	$24,070	$29,060	$31,170
302	Longview, TX	$27,330	$22,300	$29,830	$30,540
303	Dothan, AL	$27,040	$19,030	$30,970	$32,250
304	Killeen, TX	$26,830	$22,860	$28,790	$29,440
305	Valdosta, GA	$26,060	$17,990	$30,040	$29,520
306	Cleveland, TN	$25,560	$22,960	$26,850	$29,020
307	Wichita Falls, TX	$25,460	$21,240	$27,540	$28,440
308	College Station, TX	$25,230	$19,740	$27,930	$27,740
309	Tuscaloosa, AL	$24,940	$23,690	$25,560	$28,430
310	Daphne, AL	$24,860	$23,670	$25,440	$26,250
311	Lubbock, TX	$24,840	$21,860	$26,290	$27,200
312	Gadsden, AL	$24,340	$22,780	$25,130	$28,420
313	Gulfport, MS	$23,860	$15,770	$27,850	$26,510
314	Hattiesburg, MS	$23,750	$19,300	$25,960	$27,100
315	Mobile, AL	$23,250	$17,700	$26,000	$26,390
316	Knoxville, TN	$23,090	$18,410	$25,400	$24,940
317	Huntsville, AL	$22,760	$18,240	$24,960	$24,450
318	Montgomery, AL	$22,510	$16,740	$25,330	$25,100
319	Decatur, AL	$21,780	$17,680	$23,770	$24,970
320	Lawton, OK	$21,740	$18,180	$23,500	$25,300
321	Auburn, AL	$21,530	$15,890	$24,290	$24,480

More on substitute teachers

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Substitute Teacher, Short-Term salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays substitute teachers the most?

Anchorage, AK, where the average (mean) wage is $85,180 a year, followed by Omaha, NE-IA ($76,960), Napa, CA ($72,780), Fresno, CA ($72,220). The national mean is $46,420 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do substitute teachers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Omaha, NE-IA ($83,730 at national prices, $76,960 nominal), Anchorage, AK ($80,800 at national prices, $85,180 nominal), Fresno, CA ($70,690 at national prices, $72,220 nominal).

How much do substitute teachers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $48,730; Los Angeles, CA: $61,070; Chicago, IL-IN: $44,740; Dallas, TX: $36,380; Houston, TX: $32,680 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do substitute teachers earn the least?

Of the 321 metro areas with their own estimate, Auburn, AL has the lowest mean wage, $21,530. At local prices that is worth $24,480.