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Substitute teacher salary in Arizona

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$38,500median pay per year in Arizona, or $18.51 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,170lowest 10% earn less
  2. $34,25025th percentile
  3. $38,500median
  4. $42,04075th percentile
  5. $50,290top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $41,670[3]

The median pay for substitute teachers in Arizona was $38,500 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,170 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in AZ
4,710[4]
Rank by median pay
21 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
−7.6%[6]

How much do substitute teachers make in Arizona?

Half of the substitute teachers in Arizona earned more than $38,500 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $18.51 an hour[1]. The average was higher, at $41,780[7].

Across the US, the median was $41,670[3]. Arizona came in $3,170 (7.6%) lower[6]. Among the 49 states and DC with a published median, Arizona ranked 21st[5]. The median for all occupations in Arizona was $50,060[8], so substitute teachers earned $11,560 less[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,170, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $50,290[2]. By metro area, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler had the highest median of the 7 metro areas with a published figure, at $41,590[10]. Tucson had a median of $37,890 and Yuma had a median of $31,740[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

Arizona vs US pay

Pay for substitute teachers in Arizona next to the national figures[1][3].

AZUS
Median per year$38,500[1]$41,670[3]
Median per hour$18.51[1]$20.03[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$31,170[2]$28,560[13]
Top 10% earn more than$50,290[2]$65,790[13]
Jobs4,710[4]524,770[3]

Pay by metro area in Arizona

Metro areas in Arizona with the most jobs for substitute teachers, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ[11]$41,5903,220
Tucson, AZ$37,890450
Yuma, AZ$31,740260
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ$34,850150
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ$35,98090
Flagstaff, AZ$39,01060
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ$34,20060

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for substitute teachers in the states that border Arizona, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
California[14]$60,300115,660
Utah$36,4904,710
New Mexico$36,4003,510
Nevada$24,9606,600

Median pay for substitute teachers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for substitute teachers are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a substitute teacher make in Arizona?
The median was $38,500 a year in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,170 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $50,290[2].
How much does a substitute teacher make an hour in Arizona?
The median hourly wage was $18.51[1]. The average was $20.09 an hour[7].
Which city in Arizona pays substitute teachers the most?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler had the highest median annual wage among Arizona metro areas with a published figure, at $41,590[10]. Flagstaff had a median of $39,010[11].
Is Arizona a good state for substitute teachers?
Arizona had the 21st highest median wage out of the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $3,170 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a substitute teacher in Arizona?
This is a US figure, not an Arizona one. Across the US, the typical entry path is a bachelor's degree, no work experience in a related job, and no on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Arizona was $38,500 per year and $18.51 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Arizona: 10th percentile $31,170, 25th percentile $34,250, 75th percentile $42,040, 90th percentile $50,290. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in the US as a whole was $41,670 per year and $20.03 per hour, with about 524,770 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,710 people worked as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Arizona (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Arizona had the 21st highest median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term out of the 49 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Arizona ($38,500) was $3,170 (7.6%) lower than the US median ($41,670). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Arizona was $41,780 per year and $20.09 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Arizona was $50,060. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Arizona was $11,560 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($50,060). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 7 metro areas in or partly in Arizona with a published median for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ had the highest median annual wage, $41,590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in the US: 10th percentile $28,560, 25th percentile $34,170, 75th percentile $54,890, 90th percentile $65,790. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in states that border Arizona (highest first): California $60,300; Utah $36,490; New Mexico $36,400; Nevada $24,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Substitute Teachers, Short-Term is projected to grow 2% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 65,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Substitute Teachers, Short-Term: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only Arizona. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.