Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Georgia is $38,870/year ($18.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $42,301 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 54.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Georgia?
About substitute teachers, short-terms
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What this looks like in Georgia
Substitute teachers, short-term pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 54.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary by metro in Georgia
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins | $43K | +11% | 460 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $39K | +1% | 12,070 |
| Gainesville | $37K | -5% | 230 |
| Savannah | $34K | -12% | 280 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $32K | -17% | 290 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $31K | -19% | 180 |
| Albany | $27K | -29% | 140 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $25K | -36% | 360 |
| Columbus | $24K | -39% | 110 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $23K | -40% | 110 |
| Valdosta | $22K | -43% | N/A |
| Hinesville | $22K | -43% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 54.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for substitute teachers, short-terms in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substitute teachers, short-terms typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,248/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 115% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is substitute teachers, short-term a high-paying job in Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for substitute teachers, short-terms?
Georgia pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Georgia?
The median is $38,870 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,800, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $45,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,632/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 54.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a substitute teachers, short-term salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median substitute teachers, short-term salary is worth about $42,301 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do substitute teachers, short-terms get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.