Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Missouri is $34,790/year ($16.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $39,103 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 46.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in Missouri?
About substitute teachers, short-terms
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for substitute teachers, short-term in Missouri runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,097/month, which is 45.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (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, Missouri
Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $40K | +16% | 5,000 |
| St. Louis | $36K | +3% | 6,180 |
| St. Joseph | $33K | -4% | 130 |
| Springfield | $32K | -7% | 630 |
| Jefferson City | $32K | -9% | 130 |
| Joplin | $31K | -12% | 540 |
| Columbia | $31K | -12% | 220 |
| Cape Girardeau | $30K | -14% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 45.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substitute teachers, short-terms typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,753/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $35K here vs. $42K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for substitute teachers, short-terms?
Missouri pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Missouri?
The median is $34,790 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,220, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $49,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,428/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 45.2% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $39,103 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.