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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 Education out-earn Substitute Teachers, Short-Term by $22K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Substitute Teachers, Short-Term land at $41,670 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 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-Term is Alaska ($66,920); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 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)
1.6%
-2%
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-Term or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn more nationally. The median is $41,670 for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, 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?

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term has the better 10-year outlook at 1.6% projected growth, compared to -2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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-Term get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term 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-Term earn $66,920 vs. $79,260 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. 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-Term by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by take-home payExplore →How to become a substitute teachers, short-termGuide →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →