Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Iowa is $37,230/year ($17.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $41,897 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 41.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Iowa?
About substitute teachers, short-terms
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for substitute teachers, short-term in Iowa runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 42.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for substitute teachers, short-terms.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary by metro in Iowa
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $47K | +25% | 360 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $38K | +1% | 1,780 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $37K | -1% | 990 |
| Iowa City | $37K | -1% | 470 |
| Cedar Rapids | $37K | -1% | 650 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $36K | -2% | 400 |
| Ames | $36K | -2% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track substitute teachers, short-term salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 42.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substitute teachers, short-terms typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,859/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Iowa?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $37K here vs. $42K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for substitute teachers, short-terms?
Iowa pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Iowa?
The median is $37,230 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,980, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $47,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,521/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 42.2% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $41,897 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.