Last updated on July 31st, 2023 at 02:44 pm
Substitute teaching can sound like a pretty sweet gig at first– filling in for a teacher on your selected days, carrying out the lesson plan and actually getting to go home, free from planning or grading, when the last bell rings.
I’ve been substitute teaching for a few years now, and I concede those are definite perks. Perks keep me in the game. But there are multiple considerations to weigh before committing to being a part-time teacher nomad. Like an older, seasoned cool kid doling out advice about my experiences (except I’m not the cool kid, because I’m a sub…) I’m here to give my honest assessment based on my experiences. Settle in, potential substitute!
Why I started subbing on the side
I have two distinct substitute teaching eras:
- Subbing as a teacher interested in gaining employment in a certain district
- Subbing as a mom for extra income
My first era began when I was still a full-time teacher. It took some careful scheduling gymnastics, but I relished the challenge of teaching in two districts at once.
I techinically worked in the neighboring county and district, but the school district I actually lived in was my first choice for jobs.
Comparing school calendars, I noticed that the two districts had the following different schedules: one took off for Veteran’s Day while the other didn’t (1), a few (3) different days over winter break, fully separate Spring Breaks (5) and a three days at the end of the year. Because the district I became a sub in required at least 10 days worked in a year to retain sub status for the next year, I had to be sure I’d work at least 10 of the 12 possible days in which there was no overlap between the two calendars.
It also meant not getting a Spring Break.
Enlivened by the possibility of making crucial advances in my preferred district and the surety of making over 1 grand in extra coin, I was able to defy time/space/reason and achieve my ten work days as a substitute while also serving as a first-grade teacher.
This unlikely feat was probably only possible because I had the vision and stamina of a 25-year-old, and I definitely wouldn’t take that approach today.
It’s a valid strategy for young teachers or prospective teachers who sub in the schools or districts they’d like to be hired in. It definitely helps to gain contacts and be on the top of admin’s mind, not to mention getting more complete views of what working there would be like.
My next era of subbing was more begrudging, not going to lie. I had my daughter and a thousand hobbies– why would I ever want to leave home?
But the enticement of small riches on a handpicked schedule brought me back to strangers’ classrooms. I worked 10.5 days that school year, (while pumping breastmilk on my breaks), bringing in around $1,450 of extra income.
Pros of substitute teaching on the side
Flexibility
(This varies depending on the situation)
STEDI.org, which published the short online substitute course I had to take to become a sub, lists flexibility as people’s foremost motivator for subbing.
I agree that the flexibility is the job’s most important feature for me. There’s nothing quite like the freedom to choose when I work and which schools and classrooms I cover for.
Flexibility also depends on how much money you aim to make, though. We lived off of my husband’s income, and I considered anything I made in the 2023 to be great rainy day funds. But if you need to earn more than that, you will have to turn down less jobs.
It’s also worth noting that the school district I work in is fairly large, with ample opportunities for work. I could have worked every day if I wanted to, and there still would have been extra jobs on the table. If you work for one school or a small district, the work opportunities may be more sparse.
Other things to consider: Will you work for a large school district and have access to dozens of schools, or will you work for one school? How is the system for job notification? Can you easily ignore automated calls/emails/notifications if you don’t want to take a job (usually large school districts use this kind of system), or do you have to explain yourself to a real person every time (this most likely will be found in private or charter schools)? I would have found it difficult to explain to a secretary that I couldn’t fill in for Mrs. Jones who has the flu because I lost a few hours of sleep the night before and feel like taking it easy.
Flexibility is subbing’s main jam. Without it, I wouldn’t sub. But I’d recommend looking into how flexible your situation can actually be before going all in.
The kindness, curiosity, and humor of children
(This also contains wide variance)
A wilting bunch of wildflowers presented to me at recess by a Kindergartener. Fourth graders laughing and enjoying the game of Hinky Pinky I taught them. Portaits and other art gifted to me by students. These are all memories I cherish, and while I don’t assume every child I substitute teach will be angelic or even pleasant, it’s so nice to have these wonderful little moments to lift me up and carry me on to continue subbing.
Mild amount of preparation work and fees to become a substitute
This can vary as well, by state and school district. My school district required at least an associate degree, passing a short online substitute course, and passing a background check including fingerprinting (around $90) and a drug test. Then I needed to head to the district office to get my photo taken and acquire my district badge with said photo.
At the time, the process felt quite involved. And it’s pretty disheartening to spend almost a whole day’s subbing paycheck on fingerprinting just to prove I’m not a criminal. But after that all was taken care of, as long as I subbed at least ten days a school year, I was ushered into the next year and subsequent years without any of the hassle.
Minimal prep work
Subbing, as opposed to teaching, doesn’t require the extensive planning and preparation work. The lesson plan (should be) provided. Is the lesson plan always great, or even passably acceptable? Certainly not. I suggest having a few tricks like time fillers and enjoyable class games in your back pocket for this reason. But 99% of the time, I find the plans to be effective. And the best part is that I don’t have to make them.
Cons of Substitute Teaching on the Side
Inconsistent workload
This factor all depends on the situation, but overall, a substitute has no control over how many teachers call off or when. I’m fortunate to belong to a large district in which I could sign up to work every weekday if I wanted to, but I can imagine it’s less prolific for smaller districts or single schools.
If work comes in a trickle, that will be unsettling if one has bills to pay. I suggest broadening your scope and making yourself available to as many schools as possible.
The more you need the work, the less you can turn jobs down.
General lack of respect
I’ve experienced a multicolored constellation of student behaviors and attitudes that range from stunningly sweet to stunningly violent.
There are usually a few students in every bunch who feel compelled to shine up their behavior because there is a new person in the room or I’ve made big promises to them like reward stickers and such, but the majority of students, in my experience, don’t place high priority on respecting strangers. Even strangers aiming to keep them safe and educate them for a day.
Sometimes even fellow staff attempt to handle me condescendingly. I was once performing end-of-day carline duty and a male teacher snapped his fingers at me and jabbed his pointer down at his spot across the walkway to indicate I was to fill in for him now that the clock had struck the exact minute his duty day was complete (I was covering for a paraprofessional, and they must stay 15 minutes longer).
You bet I didn’t return to the school where I was beckoned like a hapless puppy in obedience school. Sometimes teachers are amazing, helpful and courteous toward me, and other interactions are less than savory.
Flying by the seat of one’s pants/skirt
This job contains some of the most surprise elements of any occupation, behind maybe the Emergency Room and every branch of the military.
There’s no telling what the day can hold. One May day, I showed up to a Kindergarten class in a rayon dress on what was then pronounced to be Water Day (surprise!). While the other regular and “fun” Kindergarten teachers took turns zooming down the water slide in front of their classes, I fumbled for chances to surreptitiously separate my frock layers from clinging to my sweat-drenched thighs. (These five-year-olds had no need to see me, a stranger, sweating profusely before them in what looked like a flower print bodysuit!)
To reduce the amount of surprises and mayhem and possible panic attacks, I tend to familiarize myself with a small handful of schools and return to the same classrooms if at all possible. I call this my school beat. Stay within the beat, and the day usually holds less unexpected events.
Lack of benefits and unflattering pay
In most instances, a substitute is a part-time employee. Even when I long-term subbed, planning and teaching everything myself every day for months, I was considered part-time.
This means, generally, that there is a lack of employee benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc. One considering this gig needs to factor all of this in.
I once had my glasses snatched off my face by a student who then twisted the frame like a Gumby rubber toy, beyond my ability to repair them. I was stuck with no vision insurance to help pay for a new pair (the cost of glasses is a spectacle these days!). A woman named Rhonda from Target Optical kindly and supernaturally molded the frame back into place for me as I tearfully described the conundrum.
Please consider that your bifocals could be withdrawn from your face and bent beyond recognition before signing up for this job. (If I don’t laugh about it, I’ll cry…)
The pay is also not particularly tempting. My district has small increases of about $10 per education level, so with my Masters degree, I earn around $150 a day before taxes. From what I hear, that’s on the higher end of the spectrum. Each place will be different, so the pay is definitely worth looking into.
Is substitute teaching a worthwhile side hustle?
I share more of my detailed thoughts on whether subbing is worth it on a previous post, but obviously, it’s enough to tantalize me into signing up for the next year. The pay is substantial enough for me, and it helps our family income. I like that I can use my skills from teaching and enjoy the benefits of working with young people. I really like that, unlike teaching, I can leave the room after that bell chimes without a worry about planning or preparing. Here’s how I would summarize this as a side job:
Startup costs: Low-Medium
Pay: Low-Medium
Benefits: None
Schedule: High flexibility
Job Difficulty: Medium-High
Before jumping into substitute teaching, consider the benefits and drawbacks. Does it fit in well with your lifestyle, or what you want your life to be like? Do the advantages of the gig outweigh the challenges? I have more articles on substitute teaching on the site if that can aid you in your quest.
What do you think? Is substitute teaching as a side hustle attractive to you? I also go into depth about five other side jobs I’ve tried if you’re looking for information on other options.
