Salaries › Substitute Teacher › California
Substitute Teacher Salary in California (2026)
$28.99 per hour · take-home ≈ $48,811/year ($4,068/month) for a single filer
Substitute Teacher pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,040 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $49,210 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $60,300 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $68,280 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $78,670 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 115,660 Substitute Teacher jobs in California (occupation code 25-3031, “Substitute Teachers, Short-Term”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Substitute Teacher salary of $60,300 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $48,811 — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
| Gross (median) | $60,300 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,056 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,613 |
| California state income tax | −$1,820 |
| Take-home (annual) | $48,811 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,068 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Substitute Teacher make in California?
- The median Substitute Teacher salary in California is $60,300 per year ($28.99 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $49,210 and $68,280.
- What is the take-home pay for a Substitute Teacher in California?
- On the median salary of $60,300, a single filer in California takes home about $48,811 per year ($4,068 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
- How many Substitute Teacher jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 115,660 Substitute Teacher jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Substitute Teachers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.