Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Montana is $28,050/year ($13.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $28,918 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 56.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in Montana?
About substitute teachers, short-terms
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for substitute teachers, short-term in Montana runs about 33% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 56.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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, Montana
Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $30K | +8% | 250 |
| Bozeman | $30K | +7% | 200 |
| Missoula | $29K | +4% | 230 |
| Helena | $28K | -1% | 110 |
| Great Falls | $27K | -5% | 150 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 56.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substitute teachers, short-terms typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,376/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 33% below the national median — $28K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for substitute teachers, short-terms?
Montana pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $29K — below the national median.
How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Montana?
The median is $28,050 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,930, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $38,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,995/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 56.6% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 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 $28,918 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.