Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire a Substitute Teacher
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring substitute teachers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $41,670), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify State substitute teaching permit where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for substitute teachers
There are about 556,100 substitute teachers employed in the U.S., with roughly 65,000 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.0% from 2025–35 (slower than average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $28,560–$34,170 | $13.73–$16.43 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $65,790 | $31.63 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Classroom management
- Confidence
Nice-to-haves
- State substitute teaching permit
- Background check and fingerprints
- Substitute training
- Experience with substitute assignment apps
Where to find substitute teachers
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Substitute, Guest Teacher, Supply Teacher, Long-Term Substitute
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “How would you manage a challenging class?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain structure.
2. “Which grades do you prefer?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
3. “What would you do without lesson plans?”
What a strong answer includes: Ask the office and use backup activities.
4. “Do you have a substitute permit?”
What a strong answer includes: Share status.
5. “Why substitute teach?”
What a strong answer includes: Show interest in education.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Start the Day as a Substitute (see the steps)
- Manage a Class You Don’t Know (see the steps)
- Write Notes for the Teacher (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Lesson plan, Seating chart, Sub folder
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Substitute Teacher 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Substitute Teacher training. Show them the path forward: Day-to-Day Substitute → Long-Term Substitute → Licensed Teacher → Department Lead.
Hiring substitute teachers: FAQ
How much should I pay a substitute teacher?
The U.S. median wage for substitute teachers is $41,670 per year ($20.03/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($34,170), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($54,890). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a substitute teacher have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for State substitute teaching permit and Background check and fingerprints where relevant, plus skills such as classroom management, following lesson plans, and subject knowledge.
How long does it take to train a new substitute teacher?
Becoming qualified typically takes Days to weeks for a substitute permit. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”