Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
The median pay for a substitute teachers, short-term in Wisconsin is $43,950/year ($21.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $46,592 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 40.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in Wisconsin?
About substitute teachers, short-terms
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Substitute teachers, short-term pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 40% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level substitute teachers, short-terms (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary by metro in Wisconsin
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $62K | +42% | 170 |
| Green Bay | $53K | +20% | 620 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $46K | +5% | 1,560 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $44K | +1% | 200 |
| Kenosha | $44K | +1% | 470 |
| Madison | $44K | +0% | 1,000 |
| Fond du Lac | $43K | -3% | 40 |
| Sheboygan | $40K | -9% | 100 |
| Appleton | $39K | -11% | 250 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $39K | -12% | 260 |
| Wausau | $37K | -16% | 250 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 40% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substitute teachers, short-terms typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,144/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for substitute teachers, short-terms?
Wisconsin pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substitute teachers, short-terms make in Wisconsin?
The median is $43,950 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,740, and experienced substitute teachers, short-terms can clear $59,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,006/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 40% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $46,592 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.