Step in for absent teachers, follow their lesson plans, and keep a class on track for a day or longer.
Public and private schools, all grades
On-call daytime work, day by day
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Bachelor's degree
Training path: Bachelor's degree, permit varies.
Most states require a substitute teaching permit or license.
Flexible, on-call work good for a foot in the classroom door, but income is irregular and rarely full-time.
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Standard Occupational Classification 25-3031. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.