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Salary comparison

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Who Earns More?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations out-earn Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms by $22K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms land at $41,670 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations at $63,970. The education gap is real: substitute teachers, short-term programs typically require bachelor's degree, while elementary school teachers, except special education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms is Alaska ($66,920); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations it's Washington ($102,350).

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$41,670
$63,970
Hourly rate
$20.03/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,560
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$65,790
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
524,770
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
1%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Alaska
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Substitute Teachers, Short-Term median pay.

State
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Alaska
$66,920
$79,260
California
$60,300
$99,650
Oregon
$58,280
$77,130
Washington
$55,740
$102,350
Minnesota
$50,390
$76,350
District of Columbia
$49,790
$96,580
Maryland
$46,470
$77,680
Rhode Island
$45,590
$90,930
Pennsylvania
$44,870
$77,060
New Jersey
$43,780
$78,200
New York
$43,490
$85,760
Massachusetts
$41,350
$94,000
Connecticut
$38,460
$80,600
Ohio
$37,150
$77,370
Delaware
$36,510
$75,920

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations earn more nationally. The median is $41,670 for Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations, a difference of $22K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Substitute Teachers, Short-Term or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Substitute Teachers, Short-Term or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term typically requires bachelor's degree. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms at $66,920/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Substitute Teachers, Short-Term vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms earn $66,920 vs. $79,260 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary breakdownView →Full Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Best cities for Substitute Teachers, Short-Terms by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educations by take-home payExplore →How to become a substitute teachers, short-termGuide →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →