A substitute teacher fills in for absent teachers, leading lessons and managing classrooms across different grade levels and subjects. It is flexible work that lets you make an immediate impact in schools. You need a bachelor's degree and teaching credentials to get started.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Substitute teachers step into classrooms to deliver instruction when regular teachers are absent. You follow lesson plans, monitor student behavior and progress, communicate with supervisors about the day's events, and help students learn. The work requires you to read and understand curriculum materials, listen actively to student questions, speak clearly when teaching, and think critically about how to keep lessons on track. You establish rapport with students quickly and maintain order while keeping the classroom safe and focused on learning.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn a median of $41,670 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 61,100 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You need a bachelor's degree to become a substitute teacher. Your degree can be in any field, though education or a subject area is common. After earning your degree, you will need to complete teacher preparation and obtain the required teaching credentials for your state. This preparation typically includes coursework in education and training, child development, and classroom management. Once credentialed, you can apply to school districts that hire substitute teachers. Many districts maintain lists of available substitutes they call on as needed.
The main route is earning a bachelor's degree and completing teacher preparation and credentialing. If you are exploring whether this path fits your timeline and goals, Pathly can map the substitute teacher, short-term path that fits you and work through it with your school counselor or an education advisor.
Many substitute teacher, short-terms must be licensed to practice.
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to work that centers on people. Substitute teaching suits you if you enjoy helping others learn, building relationships quickly, and thrive in dynamic social environments.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).