Substitute Teacher
Listed on 2026-08-02
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Education / Teaching
Substitute Teacher
General tasks of substitute teachers include instructing students on those days when the regular teachers can’t make it to the lesson for some reason.
They usually work with classes from kindergarten to twelfth grade.
Substitute teachers usually work at multiple schools at the same time since it’s impossible to tell when the regular teacher will miss a day or more.
A substitute teacher may have assignments for just a day or a few months.
Even though the schedule is chaotic in general, the employment rate is expected to grow by 6% by 2024.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, substitute teachers can make the most at junior colleges, trade, and technical schools, state government (with OES designation), social and civic organizations, and the management of companies.
In 2015, the median salary of a substitute teacher was estimated at $26,830 annually, or $12.90 hourly, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
On Pay Scale though, it is reported that substitute teachers can make twice as much with bonuses and overtime work.
The highest level of employment for substitute teachers is reported to be in California, New York, Texas, Michigan, and Virginia.
However, these states don’t offer the highest salaries to substitute teachers.
Substitute teachers make the most in Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, California, and West Virginia.
The responsibilities are generally the same in all states.
Substitute teachers are typically independent contractors who replace regular teachers for some time.
To increase your income as a substitute teacher, the best way is to sign up with many schools at a time.
As soon as they are signed with many schools, their chances of finding work increase.
ResponsibilitiesEach workplace may imply different responsibilities depending on the specific requirements for the position.
However, the duties of a substitute teacher mostly overlap.
The most common responsibilities of a substitute teacher include:
- Conduct learning procedures.
- Meeting the different goals and objectives of the curriculum.
- Following the plans of lessons, units, and projects.
- Use instructional procedures and materials.
- Identifying the right techniques for achieving the best results.
- Following the guidelines and procedures of a school.
- Checking attendance.
- Ensuring the tidiness and good organization of the classroom.
- Ensuring that the blackboard is wiped.
- Following the same regulations and rules as the regular teachers do.
- Keeping up with the recommended teaching procedures.
- Maintaining relations between students, parents, and teachers.
- Reporting to the school administration at the beginning and end of the day.
- Receiving and returning materials.
- Following sign-up procedures.
- Creating the classroom environment appropriate to the students’ needs.
- Keeping up students’ interests and attention to the lesson.
- Ensuring that the students are never unattended.
- Fulfilling the duties of the absent teacher (lunchroom duty, hall monitoring, etc.).
- Leaning the evacuation procedures and routes for the assigned classrooms.
- Being aware of the procedures relating to lesson-disturbing or uncooperative students.
- Handling disciplinary problems.
- Fulfilling the duties assigned by the school principal.
- Creating an environment of mutual respect and correctness.
- Ensuring the safety of students and school property.
- Collecting and checking assignments and papers from students.
- Grading and returning the papers and assignments.
- Ensuring that the students understand the applied grading system.
- Promoting a non‑discriminatory attitude in classrooms.
- Directing the extracurricular activities, including those outdoors.
- At the end of the day, filing the reports.
- Making the necessary arrangements and inquiries for the following day.
Substitute teachers need to possess the same set of skills and regular teachers, plus some additional.
Without them, they won’t be able to do their job efficiently.
Surely, the job is very demanding and most people would be left exhausted at the end of the day.
Some of the qualities and skills essential for substitute teachers include:
- The ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- The ability to establish efficient work relations quickly.
- Being comfortable…
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