SOC 25-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · 10 metro areas compared
In Grand Rapids, MI the median wage is $35,300.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Grand Rapids, MI the median wage is $35,300. That is 15.3% lower than the national median of $41,670. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $31,880 and $46,160. The lowest tenth earn under $29,230, while the highest tenth earn more than $60,470.
Employment stands at 490, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Traverse City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $52,450. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 539th of 572 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,230 | −29.9% |
| 25th | $31,880 | −23.5% |
| Median (50th) | $35,300 | −15.3% |
| 75th | $46,160 | +10.8% |
| 90th | $60,470 | +45.1% |
| Mean | $40,730 | −2.3% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Rapids run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $35,300 goes as far as $36,694 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,694US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,300 a year, 15.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,230 to $60,470 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 490 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Traverse City, at $52,450.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median annual wage is $35,300, or $16.97 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $41,670, so pay in Grand Rapids, MI is 15.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Grand Rapids, MI earns more than $60,470 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,230 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Traverse City, at $52,450 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 490 jobs in this occupation in Grand Rapids, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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