Why is mcps substitute pay so low?

[Anonymous]

Our school sent out an email about the need for more substitutes and listed the pay as a daily hourly rate of $18.79. We pay hourly babysitters more than that. Is this normal among school systems? Not surprised they are having trouble finding teachers.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I would like to do it, but not for that wage. Not with the risk of covid on top of that crappy wage. And no health insurance

[Anonymous]

I agree OP, it's too low. Same with teacher salaries. Some DMV comps here:

APS $15.59 for non-school-based subs
https://www.apsva.us/careers-aps/substitutes/currentsubs/

FCPS $14.79
https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY22-substitute-and-homebound-rates_0.pdf

HoCo $110/day with a BA
https://www.hcpss.org/employment/substitute-positions/

PGPS $102/day with a BA
https://ektron.pgcps.org/page.aspx?Pageid=234147&id=235984

[Anonymous]

It should be double that in my opinion. Should be the same hourly wage as a teacher if they know the subject area. But only if they are a real substitute, like someone who can step into math class, not someone who just puts on a movie all class.

[Anonymous]

And some people wonder why there are so many unfilled jobs right now!

Substitute teaching is one of the crappiest jobs there is. Of course there are no candidates when the pay is crap! I agree with PP - up the pay to $25+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school sent out an email about the need for more substitutes and listed the pay as a daily hourly rate of $18.79. We pay hourly babysitters more than that. Is this normal among school systems? Not surprised they are having trouble finding teachers.

We paid high school babysitters more than that 15 years ago!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I subbed a bit pre covid. It only made sense financially, if the teachers had videos or busywork, and I could do some remote work simultaneiously. I did like when I actually needed to teach, but it was more about trying to execute someone else's busywork, which students didn't like. Couldn't win. Teachers expected it done, students expected to goof off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school sent out an email about the need for more substitutes and listed the pay as a daily hourly rate of $18.79. We pay hourly babysitters more than that. Is this normal among school systems? Not surprised they are having trouble finding teachers.

We paid high school babysitters more than that 15 years ago!

Well I'd have insisted on more than that for babysitting your kids, too!

[Anonymous]

Because they could. That's why a lot of jobs pay low. As long as people are doing the job, why bother raising the salary?

It's why I left education years ago.

[Anonymous]

If they put the pay up they'd attract better candidates too - I never understood why they didn't catch this logic.

[Anonymous]

When you compare against jobs like babysitters, you have to remember a babysitter will probably only work maybe two or three hours at a time, maybe a couple of days per week.

Subs usually work more hours than that.

After a certain amount of time the pay gets guaranteed to be a full day's pay or something like that. I know several people that did it and it seemed like it was a good gig. Especially when they were able to get long term assignments. A couple of them were retirees just looking for supplemental income.

If you multiply it by hours, let's say six hours ($112) it's on the higher end of the scale compared to other school systems in the area based on the previous post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree OP, it's too low. Same with teacher salaries. Some DMV comps here:

APS $15.59 for non-school-based subs
https://www.apsva.us/careers-aps/substitutes/currentsubs/

FCPS $14.79
https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY22-substitute-and-homebound-rates_0.pdf

My 19 year old son makes more money at Walmart stocking shelves (while going to college).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree OP, it's too low. Same with teacher salaries. Some DMV comps here:

APS $15.59 for non-school-based subs
https://www.apsva.us/careers-aps/substitutes/currentsubs/

FCPS $14.79
https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY22-substitute-and-homebound-rates_0.pdf

My 19 year old son makes more money at Walmart stocking shelves (while going to college).

Edited to add: he works 40 hours, minimum. With lots of calls for extra shifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I subbed a bit pre covid. It only made sense financially, if the teachers had videos or busywork, and I could do some remote work simultaneiously. I did like when I actually needed to teach, but it was more about trying to execute someone else's busywork, which students didn't like. Couldn't win. Teachers expected it done, students expected to goof off.

Except you were being paid to do the lesson plan, not to facilitate students goofing off or your remote work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I subbed a bit pre covid. It only made sense financially, if the teachers had videos or busywork, and I could do some remote work simultaneiously. I did like when I actually needed to teach, but it was more about trying to execute someone else's busywork, which students didn't like. Couldn't win. Teachers expected it done, students expected to goof off.

Except you were being paid to do the lesson plan, not to facilitate students goofing off or your remote work.

You get what you pay for.