Austin Substitute Teacher Pay Benchmarks (2025–2026)
- spencer655
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Substitute teacher pay in Austin isn’t one number. It’s a range shaped by district, credentials, assignment type, and incentives.
This post breaks down what substitute teachers are actually paid in the Austin area for the 2025–2026 school year, with Austin ISD as the anchor and nearby districts included for context.
Quick takeaway
Austin ISD base pay: $120–$155 per day
With incentives: up to $215/day for certified substitutes
Nearby districts: typically $125–$170/day, depending on structure
Specialty roles (nurses, counselors): can exceed $200–$300/day
If you’re a substitute deciding where to work—or a school setting rates—those differences matter.
Austin ISD substitute pay (2025–2026)
Austin ISD publishes one of the most detailed substitute pay schedules in Central Texas.
Base daily pay
Your starting rate depends on education and certification:
Less than 60 college hours: $120/day
60+ college hours: $135/day
Bachelor’s degree: $145/day
Certified teacher: $155/day
Stackable incentives
AISD’s key differentiator is that multiple incentives can stack:
Title I campus: +$10/day
Special Education assignments: +$5/day
Retired AISD teacher (certified): +$5/day
Long-term assignment (20+ consecutive days): +$20/day
45+ total days worked (any combination): +$20/day
Maximum possible daily pay
When incentives stack, published maximums reach:
Less than 60 hours: up to $175/day
60+ hours: up to $190/day
Degreed: up to $200/day
Certified: up to $215/day
In other words: the headline rate is modest, but consistency and flexibility are rewarded.
How nearby Austin-area districts compare
Substitutes often cross district lines. Here’s how common alternatives stack up.
General classroom substitute pay
District | Typical daily pay | How increases work |
Austin ISD | $120–$155 | Incentive stacking + long-term bonuses |
Eanes ISD | $130 → $163 | Automatic increase after 30 days |
Pflugerville ISD | $125–$160 | Tiered by cumulative days + certification |
Manor ISD | $120 → $170 | Step-up after day 10 in same assignment |
Del Valle ISD | $130–$160 | Increases after 61 service days |
Pattern to notice:
AISD uses assignment-based incentives
Neighboring districts favor simple day-count tiers
Neither is “better,” but they reward different behaviors.
Specialty substitute roles pay more
Districts often struggle to fill specialty roles—and pay reflects that.
Austin ISD specialty rates
Substitute nurse: $210/day
Substitute counselor: $336/day
Classified (non-teaching) substitute: $100/day
Other districts publish similarly elevated rates for nurses, especially RNs.
What this means for substitutes
If you’re choosing where to work in Austin:
Occasional subs may prefer districts with higher flat base rates
Frequent subs can earn more in AISD by stacking incentives
Certified teachers see the widest pay spread
Specialty credentials materially change earning potential
The best district depends less on the headline rate and more on how often and how flexibly you work.
What this means for schools and districts
From a staffing perspective:
Incentive stacking rewards reliability and hard-to-fill roles
Simple tier systems are easier to explain but less targeted
Specialty coverage requires materially higher pay to stay competitive
Districts recruiting from the same labor pool are competing on structure, not just dollars.
Final note on pay
Pay transparency helps everyone: substitutes make informed decisions, and schools design compensation that actually fills classrooms.
This benchmark reflects published district rates for the 2025–2026 school year across Austin and nearby Central Texas districts. Rates may change, and individual assignments can vary.
About HelloSubs
HelloSubs is a modern substitute staffing platform built specifically for K–12 schools. We help districts fill absences faster, reduce admin overhead, and give substitute teachers clearer access to real, local opportunities.
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Substitutes can apply now for flexible jobs hiring in Austin.
Schools can get their free substitute pay benchmark report here.
