CareerFacts

All careers › Substitute Teachers, Short-Term › California

Substitute teacher salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$60,300median pay per year in California, or $28.99 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,040lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,21025th percentile
  3. $60,300median
  4. $68,28075th percentile
  5. $78,670top 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 California was $60,300 a year in May 2025[1]. That is $18,630 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
115,660[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+44.7%[6]

How much do substitute teachers make in California?

The median wage for substitute teachers in California was $60,300 a year, or $28.99 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a bit higher at $62,910 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for substitute teachers was $41,670 a year[3]. California's median was $18,630 higher, or 44.7%[6]. It was also $2,060 above the median for all jobs in the state, which was $58,240[8][9]. California had the 2nd highest median for this job out of the 49 states and DC with a published median[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,040 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $78,670[2]. Among metro areas, Napa had the highest median at $76,520[10]. Of the metros listed with job counts, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $72,330, and Bakersfield-Delano had $66,480[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

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

CAUS
Median per year$60,300[1]$41,670[3]
Median per hour$28.99[1]$20.03[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$39,040[2]$28,560[13]
Top 10% earn more than$78,670[2]$65,790[13]
Jobs115,660[4]524,770[3]

Pay by metro area in California

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

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$57,21035,740
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$60,78015,430
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$60,79010,570
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$59,8609,480
Fresno, CA$54,8908,670
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$59,7806,510
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$66,4805,390
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$72,3303,800

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$58,2808,090
Arizona$38,5004,710
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 California?
The median was $60,300 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $62,910 a year[7].
How much does a substitute teacher make an hour in California?
The median was $28.99 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $18.77 an hour and the 90th percentile was $37.82[17].
Which city in California pays substitute teachers the most?
Napa had the highest median among California metro areas with a published figure, at $76,520 a year[10]. Of the metros listed with job counts, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $72,330[11].
Is California a good state for substitute teachers?
California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for this job out of the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $60,300 was 44.7% above the US median[6][1].
What do you need to become a substitute teacher in California?
Across the US, the typical entry path lists a bachelor's degree, no work experience and no on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in California was $60,300 per year and $28.99 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 California: 10th percentile $39,040, 25th percentile $49,210, 75th percentile $68,280, 90th percentile $78,670. 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 115,660 people worked as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd 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 California ($60,300) was $18,630 (44.7%) higher 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 California was $62,910 per year and $30.25 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in California was $2,060 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term, Napa, CA had the highest median annual wage, $76,520. 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 California (highest first): Oregon $58,280; Arizona $38,500; 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in California: 10th percentile $18.77, 25th percentile $23.66, 75th percentile $32.83, 90th percentile $37.82. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. 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.