Education and libraries
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 pay
$41,670
Growth to 2035
+2%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
65,000
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Substitute teachers, short-term
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Substitute teachers, short-term: 15% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Teach social skills to students, such as communication, conflict resolution, and etiquette.
- Tutor or assist students individually or in small groups.
- Distribute or collect tests or homework assignments.
Also called: Building Sub (Building Substitute) · Building Sub Teacher (Building Substitute Teacher) · Child Development Sub Teacher (Child Development Substitute Teacher) · ESL Sub (English as a Second Language Substitute) · HS Sub Teacher (High School Substitute Teacher) · Pre-School Sub Teacher (Pre-School Substitute Teacher) · Short-Term Sub Teacher (Short-Term Substitute Teacher) · Sub (Substitute)
Outlook and AI
Substitute teachers, short-term held 556,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 567,000 by 2035 (+2%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Substitute teachers, short-term vs. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Substitute teachers, short-term vs. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Substitute teachers, short-term vs. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Substitute teachers, short-term vs. Elementary school teacher
- Substitute teachers, short-term vs. High school teacher
- Substitute teachers, short-term vs. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Substitute teachers, short-term vs. Tutor