Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $59,900 a year ($28.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,900 for the top 10%. That is 44% higher than the national median of $41,670. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $60,300. There are 11 substitute teachers, Short-Term per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $58,810, close to the median.
Pay range for substitute teachers, Short-Term in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,150 | $20.74 |
| 25th percentile | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Median | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| 75th percentile | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Average (mean) | $58,810 | $28.27 |
Half of substitute teachers, Short-Term earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,991.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,495.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,303.85 |
| Weekly | $1,151.92 |
| Hourly | $28.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,900 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $76,520 | 300 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $72,330 | 3,800 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,480 | 5,390 |
| Vallejo, CA | $66,000 | 700 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $65,190 | 3,060 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,970 | 1,220 |
| Modesto, CA | $63,440 | 1,990 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $62,310 | 610 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,260 | 2,100 |
| Yuba City, CA | $61,710 | 370 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $61,590 | 210 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,290 | 1,430 |
| Chico, CA | $61,030 | 450 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,790 | 10,570 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $60,780 | 15,430 |
| Merced, CA | $60,770 | 1,450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $59,860 | 9,480 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $59,780 | 6,510 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $58,620 | 680 |
| Redding, CA | $57,460 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,210 | 35,740 |
| Visalia, CA | $56,040 | 1,880 |
| Fresno, CA | $54,890 | 8,670 |
| El Centro, CA | $54,420 | 690 |
Highest-paying states for substitute teachers, Short-Term
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $66,920 |
| California | $60,300 |
| Hawaii | $58,530 |
| Oregon | $58,280 |
| Washington | $55,740 |
| Minnesota | $50,390 |
| District of Columbia | $49,790 |
| West Virginia | $49,020 |
| Maryland | $46,470 |
| Rhode Island | $45,590 |
See Substitute Teachers, Short-Term pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $101,050 | — |
| Tutor | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $47,430 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,260 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,810 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,490 | — |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $99,230 | $47.71 |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $75,710 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $101,060 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $80,100 | — |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $91,090 | $43.80 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a substitute teachers, Short-Term make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for substitute teachers, Short-Term in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $59,900 a year, or $28.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid substitute teachers, Short-Term make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of substitute teachers, Short-Term in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $59,900 a year. The top 25% earn $59,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for substitute teachers, Short-Term in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,150 a year, and a quarter of substitute teachers, Short-Term earn $59,900 or less.
How many substitute teachers, Short-Term work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 1,070 substitute teachers, Short-Term are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.