Substitute Teachers, Short-Term · California

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary in California

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in California earn a median annual wage of $60,300 —44.7% above the national median of $41,670. That ranks CA #2 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$60,300
Median hourly
$28.99
Entry level (P10)
$39,040
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$78,670
90th percentile
Employment
115,660
6.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+44.7%
U.S. $41,670

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$39,040
$49,210
$60,300
$68,280
$39,040$60,300$78,670
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $60,300.

Employment is 1.88× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for substitute teachers, short-term

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Alaska$66,920$32.171,4201.30
2California$60,300$28.99115,6601.88
3Hawaii$58,530$28.143,9901.89
4Oregon$58,280$28.028,0901.22
5Washington$55,740$26.8014,8201.24
6Minnesota$50,390$24.228,6600.87
7District of Columbia$49,790$23.947500.31
8West Virginia$49,020$23.574,8402.05
9Maryland$46,470$22.347,6100.82
10Rhode Island$45,590$21.921,9101.13

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do substitute teachers, short-term make in California?

The median annual wage for substitute teachers, short-term in California is $60,300, or $28.99 per hour. That is 44.7% above the national median of $41,670.

What is the entry-level substitute teachers, short-term salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $39,040 per year ($18.77/hour). The 25th percentile is $49,210.

How many people work as substitute teachers, short-term in California?

About 115,660 people work in this occupation in California, or 6.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for substitute teachers, short-term?

California ranks #2 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.88x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays substitute teachers, short-term the most?

Alaska has the highest median wage at $66,920 per year, followed by California ($60,300) and Hawaii ($58,530).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes