Here's What It's Like to Side Hustle as a Substitute Teacher

There are plenty of benefits to picking up a side hustle. The extra cash might allow you to boost your savings, pay off some credit cards, or work toward another goal. And the experience you gain via your side hustle could also be a good thing to put on your resume.

In 2022, 40% of Americans reported having a side hustle, according to Zapier. And if you're thinking of getting one, you may be wondering what it's like to work as a substitute teacher. 

A friend of mine held down this gig last year, and she said it has its pros and cons. Here's what to consider.

The upside of working as a substitute teacher

To become a substitute teacher, you need to go through a background check, which makes sense since you're entering a school and working with children. Once you've gone through that, there aren't really specific skills you need, my friend says. Teachers will leave lesson plans behind, and if you can read and follow them, well, you're all set.

What’s more, the good thing about being a substitute teacher is that you don't have to worry about securing childcare if you have school-aged kids of your own. That's because your workday will start when theirs does, and you'll end when they finish up so you don't have to pay for an after-school babysitter.

Also, in some cases, the work can be fun. You might get to substitute for the art teacher, for example, which means getting to do crafts and creative projects with kids. 

The downside of working as a substitute teacher

While there are perks to being a substitute teacher, there are drawbacks, too. First of all, while substituting is perhaps a great gig for stay-at-home parents looking to drum up extra cash, if you have a full-time job, it probably won't work, since you'll need to spend the bulk of your workday at a school. Also, the work can be sporadic, since you're covering for teachers when they're off work.

My friend said that last year, she had some weeks when she was able to work every day. But then she would sometimes go weeks without being called into the school to help out. So if you're looking for a side hustle that will generate consistent income, this may not be it.

Plus, you may not always get a lot of notice as to when you're needed to come to work. My friend often had to turn down opportunities because of previous commitments, like doctor appointments. 

Also, the work itself can be tough. Often, it means you're on your feet all day managing a classroom and dealing with children. That can, in many cases, be harder than sitting at a desk writing reports and juggling deadlines.

Should you work as a substitute teacher?

All told, working as a substitute teacher can be a good way to pad your savings account and increase your personal cash flow. But prepare to hit some dry spells on the work front, and to spend a lot of time consoling weepy children or yelling at rowdy ones. 

Finally, expect at least some of your clothing to get ruined in the course of substituting, my friend warns. Consider it a hazard of working at a school.