Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher's lesson plan.
Also known as: Building Sub (Building Substitute), Building Sub Teacher (Building Substitute Teacher), Certified Sub Teacher (Certified Substitute Teacher), Child Development Sub Teacher (Child Development Substitute Teacher), Classroom Sub Teacher (Classroom Substitute Teacher), Elementary Sub Teacher (Elementary Substitute Teacher), English Sub Teacher (English Substitute Teacher), ESL Sub (English as a Second Language Substitute), ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Slower than average)
What You'd Do
- Answer students' questions.
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to improve professional competence.
- Counsel students with adjustment or academic problems.
- Distribute or collect tests or homework assignments.
- Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students.
- Enforce school and class rules to maintain order in the classroom.
- Follow lesson plans designed by absent teachers.
- Operate equipment such as computers or audio-visual aids to supplement presentations.
- Supervise students during activities outside the classroom, such as recess, lunch, and field trips.
- Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
- Teach a variety of subjects, such as English, mathematics, and social studies.
- Teach social skills to students, such as communication, conflict resolution, and etiquette.
- Tutor or assist students individually or in small groups.
- Assist students with boarding or exiting school buses.
- Grade students' assignments and exams.
- Organize and supervise games or other recreational activities.
- Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, or assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
- Restock teaching materials or supplies.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.