How to hire substitute teachers, short-term
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Answer students' questions. • Distribute or collect tests or homework assignments. • Enforce school and class rules to maintain order in the classroom. • Follow lesson plans designed by absent teachers. • Supervise students during activities outside the classroom, such as recess, lunch, and field trips. • Take class attendance and maintain attendance records. • Teach social skills to students, such as communication, conflict resolution, and etiquette. • Tutor or assist students individually or in small groups. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring and learning strategies skills • Working knowledge of English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $20.03 an hour ($41,670 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for substitute teachers, short-term
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to answer students' questions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to distribute or collect tests or homework assignments. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to enforce school and class rules to maintain order in the classroom. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to follow lesson plans designed by absent teachers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What substitute teachers, short-term do
- Answer students' questions.
- Distribute or collect tests or homework assignments.
- Enforce school and class rules to maintain order in the classroom.
- Follow lesson plans designed by absent teachers.
- Supervise students during activities outside the classroom, such as recess, lunch, and field trips.
- Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
- Teach social skills to students, such as communication, conflict resolution, and etiquette.
- Tutor or assist students individually or in small groups.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for substitute teachers, short-term
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 65,000 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay substitute teachers, short-term
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $66,920 |
| California | $60,300 |
| Hawaii | $58,530 |
| Oregon | $58,280 |
| Washington | $55,740 |
| Nevada | $24,960 |
| Oklahoma | $23,770 |
| Mississippi | $22,340 |
See substitute teachers, short-term pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Tutors
- Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.