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Substitute teacher salary in Michigan

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$39,500median pay per year in Michigan, or $18.99 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $29,720lowest 10% earn less
  2. $34,49025th percentile
  3. $39,500median
  4. $49,30075th percentile
  5. $61,370top 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 Michigan was $39,500 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $2,170 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in MI
3,600[4]
Rank by median pay
17 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
−5.2%[6]

How much do substitute teachers make in Michigan?

Substitute teachers in Michigan had a median wage of $39,500 a year, or $18.99 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less. The average was higher, at $44,350 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $41,670[3], so Michigan came in $2,170 (5.2%) lower[6]. Michigan had the 17th highest median among the 49 states and DC with a published figure[5]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median for this work was $9,770 lower than the $49,270 all-jobs median[8].

The lowest-paid 10% of substitute teachers in Michigan earned less than $29,720[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $61,370[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $34,490 and $49,300[2]. About 3,600 people held these jobs in the state[4].

Pay differs by metro area. Traverse City had the highest median of the 13 metro areas with a published figure, at $52,450[9]. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn had a median of $46,680 across 1,480 jobs[10], and Lansing-East Lansing had a median of $47,880 across 210 jobs[10]. Kalamazoo-Portage had $34,310[10]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Michigan vs US pay

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

MIUS
Median per year$39,500[1]$41,670[3]
Median per hour$18.99[1]$20.03[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$29,720[2]$28,560[12]
Top 10% earn more than$61,370[2]$65,790[12]
Jobs3,600[4]524,770[3]

Pay by metro area in Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan with the most jobs for substitute teachers, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI[10]$46,6801,480
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI$35,300490
Flint, MI$38,600280
Lansing-East Lansing, MI$47,880210
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI$36,420170
Ann Arbor, MI$38,920130
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$34,310110
Traverse City, MI$52,45090

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for substitute teachers in the states that border Michigan, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Wisconsin[13]$43,9508,420
Ohio$37,1509,140
Indiana$36,3609,920

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[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a substitute teacher make in Michigan?
The median wage for substitute teachers in Michigan was $39,500 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $44,350 a year[7].
How much does a substitute teacher make an hour in Michigan?
The median was $18.99 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid tenth earned less than $14.29 an hour[16]. The 90th percentile was $29.50 an hour[16].
Which city in Michigan pays substitute teachers the most?
Traverse City had the highest median annual wage among Michigan metro areas with a published figure, at $52,450[9].
Is Michigan a good state for substitute teachers?
Michigan had the 17th highest median annual wage for this job out of 49 states and DC[5]. Its median was 5.2% lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a substitute teacher in Michigan?
Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is a bachelor's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training listed[15]. This is a US figure, not a Michigan one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Michigan was $39,500 per year and $18.99 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 Michigan: 10th percentile $29,720, 25th percentile $34,490, 75th percentile $49,300, 90th percentile $61,370. 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 3,600 people worked as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Michigan (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Michigan had the 17th 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 Michigan ($39,500) was $2,170 (5.2%) 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 Michigan was $44,350 per year and $21.32 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Michigan was $9,770 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in Michigan with a published median for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term, Traverse City, MI had the highest median annual wage, $52,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in states that border Michigan (highest first): Wisconsin $43,950; Ohio $37,150; Indiana $36,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Michigan: 10th percentile $14.29, 25th percentile $16.58, 75th percentile $23.70, 90th percentile $29.50. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Michigan. 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.