Median pay: $28,100
Top pay: $42,200
10-year job growth: 9%
Total jobs: 10,000
The job:
Substitute teachers are not babysitters. Your job is to keep students on track with their lesson plans and to maintain a positive and orderly environment while the primary teacher is out for a day, a week or months at a time. On a more fulfilling note, it's an opportunity to bring your lifetime of experience to young minds. The job also has one of the most flexible schedules out there, but it cuts both ways: Subs are most often called the day of the assignment, so you'll need to be ready at a moment's notice.
How to switch:
Qualifications vary state by state, but most schools require a bachelor's degree and passing a competency test. Longer stints may require certification. Check with your local school districts for requirements. Also be specific about what grade and courses you feel comfortable teaching.
Quality of life ratings:
| Personal satisfaction |
Benefit to society |
Low stress |
Flexibility |
| B |
A |
C |
A |
By Donna Rosato and Tom Ziegler
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