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Substitute teacher salary in Washington

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

$55,740median pay per year in Washington, or $26.80 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,790lowest 10% earn less
  2. $51,12025th percentile
  3. $55,740median
  4. $60,78075th percentile
  5. $67,700top 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 Washington was $55,740 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $14,070 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in WA
14,820[4]
Rank by median pay
5 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+33.8%[6]

How much do substitute teachers make in Washington?

Half of the substitute teachers in Washington earned more than $55,740 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $26.80 an hour[1]. The average was close, at $56,480[7].

Across the US, the median was $41,670[3]. Washington came in $14,070 (33.8%) higher[6]. Among the 49 states and DC with a published median, Washington ranked 5th[5]. The median for all occupations in Washington was $62,990[8], so substitute teachers earned $7,250 less[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,790, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $67,700[2]. By metro area, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had a median of $60,070[10]. Spokane-Spokane Valley had a median of $52,000[10]. Longview-Kelso had the highest median of the 12 metro areas with a published figure, at $61,260[11].

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

Washington vs US pay

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

WAUS
Median per year$55,740[1]$41,670[3]
Median per hour$26.80[1]$20.03[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$45,790[2]$28,560[13]
Top 10% earn more than$67,700[2]$65,790[13]
Jobs14,820[4]524,770[3]

Pay by metro area in Washington

Metro areas in Washington 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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA[10]$60,0707,220
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$61,1904,110
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$52,0001,110
Kennewick-Richland, WA$45,050750
Yakima, WA$51,490710
Bellingham, WA$55,740600
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$55,950450
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$45,050320

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$58,2808,090
Idaho$34,0801,800

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 Washington?
The median was $55,740 a year in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,790 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $67,700[2].
How much does a substitute teacher make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly wage was $26.80[1]. The average was $27.15 an hour[7].
Which city in Washington pays substitute teachers the most?
Longview-Kelso had the highest median annual wage among Washington metro areas with a published figure, at $61,260[11]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had a median of $60,070[10].
Is Washington a good state for substitute teachers?
Washington had the 5th highest median wage out of the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $14,070 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a substitute teacher in Washington?
This is a US figure, not a Washington 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 Washington was $55,740 per year and $26.80 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 Washington: 10th percentile $45,790, 25th percentile $51,120, 75th percentile $60,780, 90th percentile $67,700. 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 14,820 people worked as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Washington (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Washington had the 5th 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 Washington ($55,740) was $14,070 (33.8%) 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 Washington was $56,480 per year and $27.15 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Washington was $62,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Washington was $7,250 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($62,990). 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, May 2025: of the 12 metro areas in or partly in Washington with a published median for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term, Longview-Kelso, WA had the highest median annual wage, $61,260. 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 Washington (highest first): Oregon $58,280; Idaho $34,080. 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 Washington. 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.