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Substitute teacher salary in Missouri

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$34,790median pay per year in Missouri, or $16.73 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $29,220lowest 10% earn less
  2. $30,61025th percentile
  3. $34,790median
  4. $37,69075th percentile
  5. $49,850top 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 Missouri was $34,790 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $6,880 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in MO
11,480[4]
Rank by median pay
36 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
−16.5%[6]

How much do substitute teachers make in Missouri?

The median wage for substitute teachers in Missouri was $34,790 a year, or $16.73 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more than that and half earned less. The average was higher at $39,250 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for substitute teachers was $41,670[3]. Missouri was $6,880 (16.5%) lower[6]. The state's median for all jobs was $47,800, so substitute teachers in Missouri earned $13,010 less than that[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of substitute teachers in Missouri earned less than $29,220, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $49,850[2]. By metro area, Kansas City, MO-KS had the highest median at $40,440[10]. St. Louis, MO-IL had a median of $35,900 and Springfield had $32,190[11].

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

Missouri vs US pay

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

MOUS
Median per year$34,790[1]$41,670[3]
Median per hour$16.73[1]$20.03[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$29,220[2]$28,560[13]
Top 10% earn more than$49,850[2]$65,790[13]
Jobs11,480[4]524,770[3]

Pay by metro area in Missouri

Metro areas in Missouri with the most jobs for substitute teachers, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
St. Louis, MO-IL[11]$35,9006,180
Kansas City, MO-KS$40,4405,000
Springfield, MO$32,190630
Joplin, MO-KS$30,780540
Columbia, MO$30,740220
Jefferson City, MO$31,750130
St. Joseph, MO-KS$33,480130
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL$30,00060

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Illinois[14]$39,41017,220
Nebraska$37,6903,430
Iowa$37,2307,300
Kansas$36,1909,360
Kentucky$29,730320
Tennessee$29,5007,690
Arkansas$29,2302,560
Oklahoma$23,7704,990

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 Missouri?
The median pay for substitute teachers in Missouri was $34,790 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $39,250 a year[7].
How much does a substitute teacher make an hour in Missouri?
The median was $16.73 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $14.05 an hour and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $23.96 an hour[17][2].
Which city in Missouri pays substitute teachers the most?
Of the 8 metro areas with a published median, Kansas City, MO-KS had the highest median at $40,440 a year[10].
Is Missouri a good state for substitute teachers?
Missouri had the 36th highest median for this job out of 49 states and DC[5]. Its median was 16.5% lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a substitute teacher in Missouri?
This is a US figure and not specific to Missouri. Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Missouri was $34,790 per year and $16.73 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 Missouri: 10th percentile $29,220, 25th percentile $30,610, 75th percentile $37,690, 90th percentile $49,850. 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 11,480 people worked as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Missouri (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Missouri had the 36th 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 Missouri ($34,790) was $6,880 (16.5%) 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 Missouri was $39,250 per year and $18.87 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Missouri was $47,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Missouri was $13,010 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,800). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 8 metro areas in or partly in Missouri with a published median for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term, Kansas City, MO-KS had the highest median annual wage, $40,440. 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 Missouri (highest first): Illinois $39,410; Nebraska $37,690; Iowa $37,230; Kansas $36,190; Kentucky $29,730; Tennessee $29,500; Arkansas $29,230; Oklahoma $23,770. 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 Missouri: 10th percentile $14.05, 25th percentile $14.72, 75th percentile $18.12, 90th percentile $23.96. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Missouri. 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.