ALT-1 Substitute Teaching Salary
The salary for substitute teaching is like a magician's magic trick. It disappears before you can count on it. Let me explain. While pay scales differ from state to state, private to public, county to county, the basic rules stay the same. You must be "qualified" by whatever standard is utilized and in the state of California, you must "join" a teacher's retirement union-and contribute a portion of your monthly salary for this privilege. And like any paying job, taxes will be deducted, but like magic, even more surprises are ahead for you.
Basic Salary Rules for Substitutes: You must "play" to be paid. If you aren't requested to work, you sit home. No unemployment. You simply sit home waiting to call in tomorrow. And, if you are requested to substitute for a "half-day," you will only be paid a percentage (50%) even though you drove the same distance, battled traffic to arrive early to speak with the teacher or review the lesson plans and are asked to "stand in the shoes" of the teacher and fulfill her recess, after school or other daily tasks.
More daunting than the deductions is the daily check-in procedure. You are given a number to call (automated in many cases) that will inform you approximately one hour before you must arrive whether or not you have been retained for a position. Shower, make-up, lunch prepared, out the door. If you are sent to an unfamiliar location, be prepared to look for the teachers' parking lot and DO NOT park in the unmarked, "everyone KNOWS that is the Principal's parking spot" or you will be asked to move your vehicle. Additionally, be prepared to be sent home immediately as the automated system has been known to be wrong, sent two or more to the same school and you arrived too late to snag the only opening-without pay.
I found the "overriding" of the automated "supposed to be fair" system by the school's secretaries to be the most frustrating. Teachers can request a favorite, lavish compliments on you, write essays on your wonderful teaching style and the school secretary can seek out one of her own "favorite" cronies and replace you without batting an eye. Hint: Kiss up to the school secretaries because you can't kiss the automated system's hinny.
There are no medical benefits, no matter how many days a month you work. This also applies to dental, vacation/sick days, etc. And if you are given an extended "special credential" to "long-term" teach as a substitute for a teacher who is on sick/maternity/family leave and it lasts for several months....do the math. Your monthly salary, for working the same exact job will be less than one-half the "real" teacher's salary no matter how spectacular your students do in his/her absence-without benefits.
If none of this bothers you and you have a heart of gold, need something to keep you busy, have a thick skin for the criticism that will be heaped upon you, or if you simply NEED the minimal "extra" money, then sign up. If you are looking to save enough to buy a house, condo or a one bedroom walk-up, keep on looking...a substitute's salary isn't for you.
