Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary in California
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in California earn a median of $60,300 a year ($28.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 115,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,670 for the top 10%. That is 45% higher than the national median of $41,670. California ranks 2nd of 50 states for substitute teachers, Short-Term pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 6.3 substitute teachers, Short-Term per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for substitute teachers, Short-Term in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| 25th percentile | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| Median | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| 75th percentile | $68,280 | $32.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,670 | $37.82 |
| Average (mean) | $62,910 | $30.25 |
Half of substitute teachers, Short-Term earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,025 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,512.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,319.23 |
| Weekly | $1,159.62 |
| Hourly | $28.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $76,520 | 300 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $72,330 | 3,800 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,480 | 5,390 |
| Vallejo, CA | $66,000 | 700 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $65,190 | 3,060 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,970 | 1,220 |
| Modesto, CA | $63,440 | 1,990 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $62,310 | 610 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,260 | 2,100 |
| Yuba City, CA | $61,710 | 370 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $61,590 | 210 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,290 | 1,430 |
| Chico, CA | $61,030 | 450 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,790 | 10,570 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $60,780 | 15,430 |
| Merced, CA | $60,770 | 1,450 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,900 | 1,070 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $59,860 | 9,480 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $59,780 | 6,510 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $58,620 | 680 |
| Redding, CA | $57,460 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,210 | 35,740 |
| Visalia, CA | $56,040 | 1,880 |
| Fresno, CA | $54,890 | 8,670 |
| El Centro, CA | $54,420 | 690 |
Highest-paying states for substitute teachers, Short-Term
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $66,920 |
| California | $60,300 |
| Hawaii | $58,530 |
| Oregon | $58,280 |
| Washington | $55,740 |
| Minnesota | $50,390 |
| District of Columbia | $49,790 |
| West Virginia | $49,020 |
| Maryland | $46,470 |
| Rhode Island | $45,590 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Tutor | $45,100 | $21.69 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $87,460 | — |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $102,030 | $49.05 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,490 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,650 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $101,370 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,950 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $97,170 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $97,010 | $46.64 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $49,140 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a substitute teachers, Short-Term make in California?
The median salary for substitute teachers, Short-Term in California is $60,300 a year, or $28.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid substitute teachers, Short-Term make in California?
The top 10% of substitute teachers, Short-Term in California earn at least $78,670 a year. The top 25% earn $68,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for substitute teachers, Short-Term in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,040 a year, and a quarter of substitute teachers, Short-Term earn $49,210 or less.
How many substitute teachers, Short-Term work in California?
About 115,660 substitute teachers, Short-Term are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.