How much do substitute teachers make in Georgia?

Substitute teacher working with students

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Substitute teachers in Georgia make anywhere between $70 to $150. As a leading provider of substitute teachers, Kelly Education recruiters often answer this question: How much do substitute teachers make in Georgia? The truth is that it varies by district! Our team also works closely with prospective and current substitute teachers to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary to succeed.

In this post, we share how much substitute teachers make in Georgia, including what goes into determining substitute teacher pay rates.

How much do substitute teachers make in Georgia, and how are pay rates determined?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Short-term substitute teachers across the United States make an average of $43,570 annually or $20.95 per hour.
The median average is $37,380 or $17.97 per hour.
Since substitute teachers typically get paid a daily rate, the average is $167.60 per day or a median pay of $143.76 based on an 8-hour workday.

Pay rates within a state and between school districts can vary greatly. For example, in Georgia, the daily pay rate for substitute teachers ranges anywhere between $70 to $150. In the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area, the pay rate is an average of $17.82 per hour or $37,070 annually.

You can get a better sense of variations between states by looking at the BLS breakdown by state. However, the most accurate information you’ll find for a job in a specific Georgia school district will be the actual job description in the posting or on the school district’s website or job board.

Factors that influence substitute teacher pay.

If you’re wondering why there can be such a significant range in pay, it’s helpful to understand that districts always set the pay rates, which are influenced by urban, rural, and suburban cost of living. Often, substitute teachers in rural areas receive a lower daily pay rate than those in suburban or urban areas. Kelly Education works with the school districts to ensure they’re offering a competitive rate through local market analysis, including looking at the local education tax base and job pay rates.

In Georgia and other states, some school districts may pay more based on your credentials, training, and other factors. For example:

You might receive a higher pay rate if you’ve completed some college or hold a doctoral, master’s, or bachelor’s degree. In Georgia, Liberty County is an example where short-term substitute teachers receive a daily rate of $75 without a degree, $80 with an associate degree, and $85 with a bachelor’s degree.

Some classifications of teachers receive higher pay, such as special education and early childhood education (ECE) qualified teachers.

Retired teachers in some school districts receive higher pay than those who have not taught in the district previously.

Substitute teachers who are classified as long-term substitute teachers or building substitute teachers are sometimes paid more than short-term substitute teachers. One county pays at least $5 more per day for long-term substitute teachers.

Some school districts pay more for expertise in certain subjects or hard-to-fill positions when a long-term substitute is required.

Some school districts have tiered levels of substitute teachers based on certifications and credentials, with higher tiers paying more than lower tiers.

Those who hold a teaching certificate typically get paid more to substitute teach than those who do not have one.

Receive steady work to increase income.

One of the benefits of substitute teaching is the flexibility it affords. You get to choose your schedule and work as many or as few days as you’d like in a week. Due to the high demand for substitute teachers in Georgia, it’s possible to work daily and receive a steady paycheck that reflects full-time pay.

You can also mark the days you aren’t available, days to weeks in advance. That means you can take that much-needed vacation or handle family obligations without stress.

Optional benefits to supplement pay through employment agencies.

Benefits are an important part of any compensation package. Since school districts generally hire substitute teachers as part-time employees, they’re not eligible for benefits. However, many school districts fill their open substitute teacher positions through employment agencies, like Kelly Education, that provide optional benefits. Benefits offered by Kelly Education include ACA medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, holiday pay, short-term disability, and more.

Grow as a substitute teacher with Kelly Education.

You’re ready to make a difference — we’re here to help. At Kelly Education, we believe in helping our substitute teachers become the best educators for students. We support our substitute teachers every step of the way. To get started, check out these articles from our fully stocked resource library:

If you are ready to make a difference with flexible work that matters, the Kelly Education team is here to help you explore your options. Fill out our brief interest form and one of our recruiters will contact you to share more about opportunities to become a substitute teacher with one of our school district partners.