Substitute Teacher Jobs in New York, NY
Substitute teaching in New York runs on the largest school system in the country, plus a deep bench of Harlem, Bronx and Brooklyn charter networks that hire their own subs. Day-to-day work starts around $160 to $200 a day, and long-term assignments pay salary. Here are the current openings, then who hires and how to qualify.
Current substitute teacher Openings in New York, NY
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Substitute Teacher Work in New York
Most substitute work in the city flows through NYC Public Schools, which keeps subs on call to cover classes as needed across all five boroughs. New subs usually come in through a principal who nominates them to that school's priority list, and the system's per diem processing office sits at 65 Court St in Downtown Brooklyn. Charter networks run their own coverage: Democracy Prep posts long-term substitute roles at its schools in Harlem and the Bronx, Brilla in the Bronx hires part-time flex teachers to cover absent teachers, and Hellenic Classical Charter Schools recruits subs for its Park Slope campus on 5th Avenue.
What sets New York apart is the clock. An uncertified sub in New York State can work only 40 days a year in one district unless they are enrolled in a certification program, so many city subs treat the job as the first step toward a full teaching license rather than a permanent role.
Top New York Employers Hiring Substitute Teachers
These employers hire substitute and coverage teachers in the five boroughs:
- NYC Public Schools - the city school system uses per diem subs in every borough, usually after a principal's nomination.
- Democracy Prep Public Schools - the charter network posts long-term substitute roles at its ten Harlem and Bronx schools, with salary starting at $55,200.
- Brilla Public Charter Schools - the Bronx network hires part-time elementary flex teachers at $31 an hour to cover absent teachers.
- Swing Education - the substitute staffing service places day-to-day subs in New York City charter and private schools.
- Hellenic Classical Charter Schools - the charter school recruits substitute teachers for its Park Slope, Brooklyn campus and also runs a Staten Island campus.
Substitute Teacher Salaries in New York
- Day-to-day: about $160 to $200 per day, or roughly $18 to $22 an hour.
- Experienced or flex: roughly $24 to $31 an hour for regular part-time coverage roles.
- Long-term: about $55,000 a year and up, prorated, for leave replacements that run for weeks or months.
These are estimates based on posted pay and federal wage data for the New York metro, where the median substitute earns about $21.74 an hour. Pay moves with certification, how often you work, high-priority assignments that pay extra, and whether a school converts you to a long-term role. In NYC Public Schools, per diem days can later count toward your salary step if you become a full-time teacher, in blocks of 85 days within one school year.
How to Become a Substitute Teacher in New York
You need a bachelor's degree for most city substitute roles. New York State does not require a teaching certificate to sub, but the New York State Education Department limits uncertified subs to 40 days per district per school year, with room to stretch to 90 days or more only when a district cannot find a certified teacher. Subs who complete at least 6 semester hours a year toward certification have no day limit. NYC Public Schools also requires its own substitute license and a fingerprint-supported security clearance before you can work with students. If you want to move from subbing to a classroom of your own, NYC Teaching Fellows pairs a 7-week summer training with a subsidized master's at partners including Bank Street, NYU and Teachers College, and CUNY's LEAP to Teacher program at BMCC helps school staff work toward certification.
What the Job Involves
Substitute teachers follow the regular teacher's lesson plan, take attendance, manage the classroom, and keep students on task for a full school day. Day-to-day subs may cover a different grade or school each morning, while long-term subs plan lessons, grade work, and communicate with families for the length of a leave.
Skills Employers Look For
- Classroom management with groups of 25 to 30 students
- Ability to follow and deliver another teacher's lesson plan
- Flexibility to take early morning calls and new grade levels
- Clear communication with staff and students
- Reliability and punctuality
- A second language such as Spanish, a plus in many city schools
Career Path and Advancement
Many New York subs start day-to-day, earn a school's trust, and move into a long-term leave replacement at the same building. From there the usual next step is a teaching certificate through a CUNY program or NYC Teaching Fellows, and a full-time teaching job on the city salary schedule, which starts above $71,000 with a bachelor's degree.
Related Careers in New York
If substitute teaching interests you, these related New York roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a teaching certificate to be a substitute teacher in New York?
No. New York State lets uncertified subs work, but only up to 40 days per district per school year unless they are working toward certification with at least 6 semester hours a year. NYC Public Schools also requires its own substitute license and a fingerprint clearance.
How much do substitute teachers make in New York?
Day-to-day subs generally earn about $160 to $200 a day, part-time flex roles at Bronx charter schools post around $31 an hour, and long-term substitutes can earn $55,000 a year and up, prorated. These are estimates that vary by school and assignment.
How do I get hired as a sub in NYC Public Schools?
Most new subs are nominated by a school principal, who adds them to that school's priority list. You then complete the substitute license and security clearance steps. Building a relationship with one or two schools is the fastest way to steady work.
What is a long-term substitute?
A long-term substitute covers one class for weeks or months, often during a parental or medical leave. The role usually pays a salary rather than a daily rate, and you plan lessons and grade work like the regular teacher.
Does substitute teaching count toward a teacher salary step?
In NYC Public Schools it can. Per diem service counts toward your salary step if you later become a full-time city teacher, in blocks of 85 days within one school year. Substitute work outside the city system does not count.
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