Substitute Teacher Jobs in Phoenix, AZ
Substitute teachers in Phoenix earn about $140 to $210 a day, and long-term subs at Phoenix Union high schools make $180 a day through ESS. Here are the current substitute openings, followed by who is hiring, what the day rates look like, and how to get an Arizona substitute certificate.
Current substitute teacher Openings in Phoenix, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Substitute Teacher Work in Phoenix
Phoenix-area districts fill classroom absences three ways, and knowing which one a district uses tells you where to apply. Phoenix Union High School District fills its substitute jobs through ESS, so subs who want Alhambra, Carl Hayden or Metro Tech apply through ESS rather than the district. Mesa Public Schools posts its own Substitute Teacher listing for the 2026-27 year, and Washington Elementary in north Phoenix hires certified subs directly and books them through Frontline absence management. App-based platforms are the third route: Swing Education lists daily jobs at Maricopa County districts such as Wilson, Murphy and Riverside Elementary.
Long-term assignments are where the money is. When a teaching vacancy stays open, a long-term sub covers the class at a higher day rate, $180 a day at Phoenix Union, and retired teachers in those jobs earn $220.
Top Phoenix Employers Hiring Substitute Teachers
These districts, staffing firms and charter schools had substitute teaching roles open on their own sites this month:
- ESS - the education staffing firm hires day-to-day and long-term substitutes for Phoenix Union High School District.
- Mesa Public Schools - the East Valley district runs its own year-round substitute teacher posting for the 2026-27 school year.
- Washington Elementary School District - the north Phoenix and Glendale elementary district hires substitutes who hold a substitute or standard teaching certificate.
- Swing Education - the substitute platform books daily jobs at Maricopa County districts and charters at $140 to $210 a day.
- Kelly Education - the K-12 staffing firm recruits substitute teachers and paraeducators in Phoenix and held a local hiring event in June.
- Great Hearts Academies - the classical charter network posts substitute teacher and long-term substitute roles at its Valley academies.
Substitute Teacher Salaries in Phoenix
- Entry level: about $140 to $150 a day for day-to-day assignments, or $75 for a half day at Phoenix Union.
- Experienced: roughly $180 to $210 a day for long-term assignments and high-need schools.
- Senior: up to $220 a day for retired teachers in long-term assignments at Phoenix Union.
These are estimates from the day rates ESS and Swing Education publish for Phoenix, and they line up with 2025 federal data putting the metro's median substitute wage near $20 an hour. What moves pay is the certificate you hold, since a standard teaching certificate unlocks higher rates, whether the job is daily or long-term, and last-minute or high-need bonuses on app platforms.
How to Become a Substitute Teacher in Phoenix
Most Phoenix districts require the Substitute, PreK-12 certificate from the Arizona Department of Education. It takes a bachelor's degree in any subject, a valid IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, an application and a $60 fee, and it is valid for six years. Without a bachelor's degree, a district superintendent can request an Emergency Substitute Certificate for you with a high school diploma, GED or associate degree, but it only covers that one district and caps you at 120 days in the same school each year. ESS also requires Phoenix Union subs to be at least 21, and Kelly Education advises allowing up to three weeks for onboarding.
What the Job Involves
Substitute teachers follow the regular teacher's lesson plans, take attendance, keep the class on task and leave notes on what was covered. Long-term subs go further: they plan lessons, grade work, enter grades and meet with parents much like a contracted teacher.
Skills Employers Look For
- A valid Arizona substitute or teaching certificate
- Calm, consistent classroom management
- Flexibility to take early-morning calls and new grade levels
- Following written lesson plans exactly
- Comfort with Frontline or app-based job booking
- Spanish is a plus at many Phoenix schools
Career Path and Advancement
Subbing is a common way into Phoenix classrooms. Many subs move to long-term assignments, get to know a school's principal, and are hired on an Alternative Teaching Certificate while they finish a program such as Rio Salado College's Teacher in Residence or the ASU Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. From there the path runs to a standard certificate and a contracted teaching job.
Related Careers in Phoenix
If substitute teaching interests you, these related Phoenix roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a degree to substitute teach in Arizona?
For the standard Substitute, PreK-12 certificate, yes, a bachelor's degree in any subject. The Emergency Substitute Certificate only needs a high school diploma, GED or associate degree, but a superintendent has to request it and it is limited to that district.
How much do substitute teachers make in Phoenix?
Day-to-day subs generally earn $140 to $150 a day, and Phoenix Union pays $150 for a full day through ESS. Long-term subs earn $180 to $210 a day, and retired teachers in long-term jobs at Phoenix Union earn $220.
What is the difference between a daily and a long-term substitute?
A daily sub covers a single absence and follows the teacher's plans. A long-term sub covers the same class for weeks or months, plans and grades, and is paid a higher day rate for it.
How long does it take to start subbing?
You need your IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card before the certificate can be issued, so apply for that first. Kelly Education tells applicants to allow up to three weeks for the full process.
Can substitute teaching lead to a full-time teaching job?
It can. A long-term assignment lets a principal see your work, and if you have a bachelor's degree an Alternative Teaching Certificate lets a district hire you as a full-time teacher while you finish a certification program.
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