Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Massachusetts is $41,350/year ($19.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $41,313 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 83.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in Massachusetts?
About substitute teachers, short-terms
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Substitute teachers, short-term pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 84.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield | $44K | +6% | 210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $42K | +2% | 5,450 |
| Springfield | $41K | +0% | 570 |
| Worcester | $38K | -7% | 940 |
| Barnstable Town | $37K | -10% | 310 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $37K | -12% | 280 |
Compare to other states
Track substitute teachers, short-term salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 84.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substitute teachers, short-terms typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,015/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 116% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for substitute teachers, short-terms?
Massachusetts pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Massachusetts?
The median is $41,350 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,590, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $58,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,766/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 84.9% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median substitute teachers, short-term salary is worth about $41,313 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.