What Do K-12 Substitute Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for k-12 substitute teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what k-12 substitute teachers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
K-12 Substitute Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about k-12 substitute teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
K-12 Substitute Teachers teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Popular Job Titles For K-12 Substitute Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Elementary Teachers
- Elementary School Teachers
- 5th Grade Teachers
- 1st Grade Teachers
- 3rd Grade Teachers
- 4th Grade Teachers
- 2nd Grade Teachers
- Upper Elementary Teachers
- 2nd Grade Elementary Teachers
- Elementary Classroom Teachers
- Teachers
- Head Start Teachers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for k-12 substitute teachers can be found.
Best Industries for K-12 Substitute Teachers
K-12 Substitute Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 84.5%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 13.7%
- Religious Organizations: 1%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.6%
- Child Day Care Services: 0.1%
- Educational Support Services: 0%
- Other: 0.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of k-12 substitute teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 84.5% of all jobs for k-12 substitute teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (13.7%), Religious Organizations (1%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.6%), Child Day Care Services (0.1%) and Educational Support Services (0%).
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What Do K-12 Substitute Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what k-12 substitute teachers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work k-12 substitute teachers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that k-12 substitute teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for k-12 substitute teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's K-12 Substitute Teachers
Based on 79,908 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for K-12 Substitute Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 21,250 | 27% |
| Classroom Management | 11,660 | 15% |
| Curriculum Development | 9,126 | 11% |
| Special Education | 8,762 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 7,399 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for K-12 Substitute Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 40,981 | 51% |
| Communication | 26,480 | 33% |
| Planning | 14,290 | 18% |
| Writing | 11,662 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 11,210 | 14% |
Based on 79,908 job postings related to k-12 substitute teachers, lesson planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for classroom management, curriculum development, special education, learning styles and individualized education programs (iep) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for k-12 substitute teachers, followed by communication, planning, writing, mathematics and interpersonal communications.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 21,250 | 27% |
| Classroom Management | 11,660 | 15% |
| Curriculum Development | 9,126 | 11% |
| Special Education | 8,762 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 7,399 | 9% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 7,373 | 9% |
| Primary Education | 6,018 | 8% |
| Instructional Strategies | 5,887 | 7% |
| Educational Assessment | 5,681 | 7% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 5,568 | 7% |
| Child Development | 4,025 | 5% |
| Small Group Instruction | 3,931 | 5% |
| Social Studies | 3,760 | 5% |
| Pedagogy | 3,723 | 5% |
| Effective Communication | 3,581 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 3,403 | 4% |
| Reading Instruction | 3,369 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 3,021 | 4% |
| Data Analysis | 2,761 | 3% |
| Physical Education | 2,751 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 40,981 | 51% |
| Communication | 26,480 | 33% |
| Planning | 14,290 | 18% |
| Writing | 11,662 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 11,210 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 9,240 | 12% |
| English Language | 8,119 | 10% |
| Leadership | 7,369 | 9% |
| Research | 6,942 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 6,881 | 9% |
| Management | 6,573 | 8% |
| Progress Reporting | 6,179 | 8% |
| Coaching | 5,261 | 7% |
| Multilingualism | 5,174 | 6% |
| Parent Communication | 5,137 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 4,972 | 6% |
| Literacy | 4,946 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 4,183 | 5% |
| Training And Development | 3,907 | 5% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,714 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for K-12 Substitute Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Teachers | 18,753 | 17.2% |
| Elementary School Teachers | 16,465 | 15.1% |
| 5th Grade Teachers | 9,592 | 8.8% |
| 1st Grade Teachers | 8,041 | 7.4% |
| 3rd Grade Teachers | 7,750 | 7.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was elementary teachers, with 6,891 unique job postings. Elementary school teachers were second, with 3,606 postings, followed by 5th grade teachers, 1st grade teachers and 3rd grade teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to k-12 substitute teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Teachers | 18,753 | 17.2% |
| Elementary School Teachers | 16,465 | 15.1% |
| 5th Grade Teachers | 9,592 | 8.8% |
| 1st Grade Teachers | 8,041 | 7.4% |
| 3rd Grade Teachers | 7,750 | 7.1% |
| 4th Grade Teachers | 6,552 | 6% |
| 2nd Grade Teachers | 5,713 | 5.2% |
| Upper Elementary Teachers | 5,060 | 4.6% |
| 2nd Grade Elementary Teachers | 4,373 | 4% |
| Elementary Classroom Teachers | 3,883 | 3.6% |
| Teachers | 3,714 | 3.4% |
| Head Start Teachers | 2,904 | 2.7% |
| Reading Teachers | 2,354 | 2.2% |
| Elementary Music Teachers | 2,237 | 2% |
| Instructional Coaches | 2,110 | 1.9% |
| Float Teachers | 2,800 | 2.6% |
| Elementary Art Teachers | 1,868 | 1.7% |
| Classroom Teachers | 2,184 | 2% |
| 3rd Grade Classroom Teachers | 1,668 | 1.5% |
| Elementary Physical Education Teachers | 1,119 | 1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for k-12 substitute teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for k-12 substitute teachers.
How much do k-12 substitute teachers make?
K-12 Substitute Teachers: How do you become one?
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