Skip to content
AffordMap
Education

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary in Tennessee

The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Tennessee is $26,240/year ($12.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $32K for experienced workers.

AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)

$26K
Median annual
$12.62/hr
Hourly rate
$20K
Entry level (10th %)
$32K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $26K get you in Tennessee?

Take-home$1,926/mo
2BR rent (est.)-$1,274/mo
Rent burden66.1% (above 30%)
COL-adjusted salary$26,240/yr
After rent$652/mo
See how this compares in other cities →

About substitute teachers, short-terms

U.S. employed: 6,690
Category: Education
View teaching positions
Currently hiring in Tennessee
View (opens in new tab)

Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee

Bar chart showing Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary percentiles in Tennessee: 10th percentile $20,300, 25th percentile $21,610, median $26,240, 75th percentile $29,580, 90th percentile $31,830. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$20K25th$22KMedian$26K75th$30K90th$32K
Bar chart showing Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary percentiles in Tennessee: 10th percentile $20,300, 25th percentile $21,610, median $26,240, 75th percentile $29,580, 90th percentile $31,830. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $26K.Top earners bring in $32K or more - a $12K spread from bottom to top.

Share

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term pay across states

Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure

StateMedian salaryvs. nationalEmployment
California$57K+49%103,210
Oregon$56K+44%4,260
Washington$55K+43%13,890
Hawaii$50K+30%1,970
Minnesota$49K+27%8,430
District of Columbia$48K+25%640
West Virginia$48K+24%4,630
Rhode Island$45K+16%1,490
Nebraska$44K+13%4,370
Alaska$42K+10%730
Pennsylvania$42K+8%14,470
Wisconsin$41K+5%9,780
North Dakota$40K+4%490
New York$40K+3%32,910
Maryland$39K+3%8,060

Track substitute teachers, short-term salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.

Would this salary go further somewhere else?
Compare your purchasing power across cities
Compare →
How do you get into this field?
Education, licensing, and what the career path looks like
Read guide →

Related careers in Education

Frequently asked questions

How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Tennessee?

The median is $26,240 a year - that works out to about $12.62 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,300, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $31,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $26K enough to live in Tennessee?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,926/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $1,274/month (median of metro areas), which eats 66.1% 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 Tennessee?

Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median substitute teachers, short-term salary is worth about $26,240 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.

All careers in Tennessee
Top-paying jobs, rent, and cost of living
Location hub →