Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $46,470/year ($22.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $42,680 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 70% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About substitute teachers, short-terms
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria sits well above the national pay line for substitute teachers, short-term, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 71.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for substitute teachers, short-terms in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $35K | $36K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $46K | $47K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $37K | $35K |
| Roanoke | $37K | $39K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $67K | +61% | 1,420 |
| California | $60K | +45% | 115,660 |
| Hawaii | $59K | +40% | 3,990 |
| Oregon | $58K | +40% | 8,090 |
| Washington | $56K | +34% | 14,820 |
| Minnesota | $50K | +21% | 8,660 |
| District of Columbia | $50K | +19% | 750 |
| West Virginia | $49K | +18% | 4,840 |
| Maryland | $46K | +12% | 7,610 |
| Rhode Island | $46K | +9% | 1,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | +8% | 22,360 |
| Wisconsin | $44K | +5% | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +5% | 17,100 |
| New York | $43K | +4% | 36,090 |
| North Dakota | $43K | +2% | 420 |
| Massachusetts | $41K | -1% | 8,410 |
| Michigan | $40K | -5% | 3,600 |
| Illinois | $39K | -5% | 17,220 |
| Virginia | $39K | -6% | 24,350 |
| Georgia | $39K | -7% | 16,400 |
| Arizona | $39K | -8% | 4,710 |
| Connecticut | $38K | -8% | 5,950 |
| Vermont | $38K | -8% | 1,400 |
| Nebraska | $38K | -10% | 3,430 |
| Maine | $37K | -10% | N/A |
| Iowa | $37K | -11% | 7,300 |
| Ohio | $37K | -11% | 9,140 |
| Florida | $37K | -11% | 25,270 |
| Wyoming | $37K | -11% | 2,230 |
| Delaware | $37K | -12% | N/A |
| Utah | $36K | -12% | 4,710 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -13% | 3,510 |
| Indiana | $36K | -13% | 9,920 |
| Kansas | $36K | -13% | 9,360 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | -16% | 1,070 |
| Missouri | $35K | -17% | 11,480 |
| Idaho | $34K | -18% | 1,800 |
| North Carolina | $34K | -19% | 20,360 |
| Texas | $32K | -23% | 29,150 |
| South Carolina | $30K | -27% | 7,700 |
| Kentucky | $30K | -29% | 320 |
| Tennessee | $30K | -29% | 7,690 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -30% | 2,560 |
| Montana | $28K | -33% | 2,370 |
| South Dakota | $28K | -33% | 1,610 |
| Louisiana | $27K | -34% | 1,090 |
| Alabama | $25K | -39% | 9,290 |
| Nevada | $25K | -40% | 6,600 |
| Oklahoma | $24K | -43% | 4,990 |
| Mississippi | $22K | -46% | 2,390 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track substitute teachers, short-term salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 71.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substitute teachers, short-terms typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,137/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 105% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $46K here vs. $42K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for substitute teachers, short-terms?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $46,470 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,620, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $53,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,139/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 71.6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $42,680 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.