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Substitute teacher salary in North Carolina

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

$33,780median pay per year in North Carolina, or $16.24 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $28,390lowest 10% earn less
  2. $30,19025th percentile
  3. $33,780median
  4. $37,76075th percentile
  5. $45,040top 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 North Carolina was $33,780 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $7,890 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
20,360[4]
Rank by median pay
38 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
−18.9%[6]

How much do substitute teachers make in North Carolina?

The median wage for substitute teachers in North Carolina was $33,780 a year, or $16.24 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a bit higher, at $35,220 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for this job was $41,670 a year[3]. North Carolina was $7,890 (18.9%) lower[6]. It had the 38th highest median among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. The median for all jobs in the state was $47,970[8]. Substitute teachers were $14,190 below that[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28,390 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $45,040[2]. Among metro areas, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC had the highest median, at $45,800[10]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC was at $32,010 and Raleigh-Cary, NC was at $35,510[11]. OEWS covers wage and salary workers, so it leaves out the self-employed. It also leaves out bonuses and the cost of benefits[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

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

NCUS
Median per year$33,780[1]$41,670[3]
Median per hour$16.24[1]$20.03[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$28,390[2]$28,560[13]
Top 10% earn more than$45,040[2]$65,790[13]
Jobs20,360[4]524,770[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina 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
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC[11]$45,8002,750
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$32,0102,570
Winston-Salem, NC$31,4702,370
Raleigh-Cary, NC$35,5101,860
Greensboro-High Point, NC$44,3701,320
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$35,1901,280
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC$33,2201,060
Wilmington, NC$33,780880

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[14]$39,02024,350
Georgia$38,87016,400
South Carolina$30,4007,700
Tennessee$29,5007,690

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 North Carolina?
The median was $33,780 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $35,220 a year[7].
How much does a substitute teacher make an hour in North Carolina?
The median was $16.24 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $13.65 an hour and the 90th percentile was $21.66[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays substitute teachers the most?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC had the highest median among 14 metro areas, at $45,800 a year[10]. That area crosses into Virginia[11].
Is North Carolina a good state for substitute teachers?
North Carolina had the 38th highest median among 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $7,890 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a substitute teacher in North Carolina?
This is a US figure, not a state one. 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 North Carolina was $33,780 per year and $16.24 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $28,390, 25th percentile $30,190, 75th percentile $37,760, 90th percentile $45,040. 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 20,360 people worked as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 38th 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 North Carolina ($33,780) was $7,890 (18.9%) 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 North Carolina was $35,220 per year and $16.93 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in North Carolina was $14,190 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 14 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC had the highest median annual wage, $45,800. 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 North Carolina (highest first): Virginia $39,020; Georgia $38,870; South Carolina $30,400; Tennessee $29,500. 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $13.65, 25th percentile $14.51, 75th percentile $18.16, 90th percentile $21.66. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. 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.