Substitute Teacher Jobs in Philadelphia, PA
Substitute teachers in Philadelphia public schools earn $151.76 to $185.10 a day through ESS, the School District of Philadelphia's substitute partner, and $225 a day on long-term assignments. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays, and how to get cleared to work.
Current substitute teacher Openings in Philadelphia, PA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Substitute Teacher Work in Philadelphia
Most substitute work in the city runs through the School District of Philadelphia, which operates more than 200 district schools out of its headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street and fills daily and long-term absences through ESS. ESS posts separate substitute pools for North, South, East and West Philadelphia, so you can focus on schools in one part of the city. Charter schools add a second market: KIPP Philadelphia and Esperanza Academy in Hunting Park hire their own building substitutes, who report to the same school every day. Catholic schools, including the Independence Mission Schools, fill absences through Kelly Education.
Top Philadelphia Employers Hiring Substitute Teachers
These employers post substitute teacher openings in the city for the 2026-27 school year:
- ESS (School District of Philadelphia) - the district's substitute partner hires daily and long-term substitute teachers for North, South, East and West Philadelphia schools, plus substitute classroom assistants and climate staff.
- KIPP Philadelphia - the charter network hires full-time elementary and secondary building substitutes for 2026-27, with the secondary role posted at a $45,000 salary plus bonuses.
- Esperanza Academy Charter School - the Hunting Park charter recruits per diem K-12 substitutes and building substitutes for its campuses on West Hunting Park Avenue and North 5th Street.
- Kelly Education - the staffing firm places daily substitute teachers in Philadelphia Catholic schools, including an Independence Mission School opening at $130 a day.
Substitute Teacher Salaries in Philadelphia
- Entry level: about $130 to $152 a day for day-to-day substitutes without a teaching certificate, the range posted by Kelly Education and ESS.
- Experienced: $185.10 a day for certified day-to-day substitutes with ESS, or a $45,000 salary for a full-time building substitute at KIPP Philadelphia.
- Senior / long-term: $225 a day for long-term substitutes with ESS, and $249.06 to $254.92 a day for retired certified teachers.
These are estimates from posted 2026-27 rates. A PA teaching certificate is the biggest pay step, and long-term assignments pay more than daily calls. The state labor department's May 2025 figures put short-term substitute pay in the Philadelphia area at an average of $22.25 an hour.
How to Become a Substitute Teacher in Philadelphia
To substitute in a Pennsylvania public school, including district and charter schools, you need a bachelor's degree in any subject. If you do not hold a PA certificate, the school requests a day-to-day emergency permit for you from the Pennsylvania Department of Education through its TIMS system; it is valid for one school year, and covering more than 20 days in one position takes a long-term permit. College students with 60 or more credits in an approved teacher preparation program, such as Temple's College of Education and Human Development at Ritter Hall on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, can substitute on a limited basis. Every substitute needs three clearances: FBI fingerprints through IdentoGO ($24.95), a PA State Police check ($22) and a PA Child Abuse History Clearance ($13), plus a TB test and mandated reporter training. ESS says new substitutes can start within two to four weeks. Catholic schools set their own rules; Kelly's Independence Mission School posting asks for a high school diploma and age over 21.
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. Daily substitutes may cover a different grade or subject each day, while long-term and building substitutes plan lessons, grade work and handle parent contact for weeks at a time. Classroom management is the core of the job.
Skills Employers Look For
- Calm, consistent classroom management
- Following lesson plans and leaving clear notes
- Reliability and early-morning availability
- Flexibility across grades and subjects
- Comfort with Chromebooks and learning platforms
- Clear communication with staff and students
Career Path and Advancement
In Philadelphia, substitute work is a common way into teaching. Daily substitutes move into long-term assignments, and many go on to certification through the School District's Teacher Residency, Drexel's Philadelphia Teacher Residency or Temple's residency program, all of which place residents in city classrooms while they earn a certificate. Once certified, a new district teacher starts on the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers salary scale.
Related Careers in Philadelphia
If substitute teaching interests you, these related Philadelphia roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a teaching certificate to substitute in Philadelphia?
No. Public and charter schools can hire a substitute with a bachelor's degree in any field through a day-to-day emergency permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. A certificate raises ESS pay from $151.76 to $185.10 a day.
How much do substitute teachers make in Philadelphia?
ESS pays $151.76 a day for uncertified and $185.10 a day for certified day-to-day substitutes in School District of Philadelphia schools, and $225 a day for long-term substitutes. KIPP Philadelphia posts a salaried secondary building substitute role at $45,000.
Who hires substitutes for the School District of Philadelphia?
ESS runs substitute hiring for the district. You apply online, attend a virtual onboarding meeting and finish an in-person I-9 check, then take assignments through its North, South, East and West Philadelphia pools.
What clearances does a Philadelphia substitute need?
You need FBI fingerprinting through IdentoGO, a PA State Police criminal record check and a PA Child Abuse History Clearance, together about $60. Schools also require a TB test and mandated reporter training before your first day.
How long does it take to start substitute teaching?
ESS says most new substitutes start within two to four weeks, depending on how fast clearances come back. The child abuse clearance is mailed within 14 days, so apply for all three clearances as soon as you decide to sub.
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