Substitute teachers save the day when the regular teacher is out. During the teacher's absence, the substitute leads the classroom through scheduled academic coursework, grades student papers and doles out discipline as the original teacher would have. Subs are paid a per diem, or per day, rate in Louisiana. Pay rates depend on the level of education the sub has and the county in which she works.

Education and Certification

According to the National Education Association, Louisiana has a great need for substitute teachers. While substitutes in other states, such as California, are required to hold a degree in teaching, subs in Louisiana need only be high school graduates. High school graduates are generally paid a lower fee, however, than their degree-holding counterparts.

High School Graduates

Pay rates differ between counties, but substitutes who hold only a high school diploma can expect to earn less than college graduates. For example, in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, a substitute teacher with a high school diploma is paid $60 a day for her work. This rate also applies to St. Tammany Parish Public Schools.

Geographic State and Metropolitan Salary Map for Substitute Teachers

College Graduates

A substitute who holds a degree or is certified as a teacher can expect to earn more. For example, subs who hold a degree at the East Baton Rouge Parish School System earn $80 a day. Substitutes at St. Tammany Parish Public Schools earn up to $90 a day if they are certified, and those at St. Charles Parish Public Schools earn up to $69.15 a day if short-term and $102.23 a day if long-term.

Other Requirements

Substitute teachers in Louisiana might have to submit to a background check during the application process, such as with the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. They might also be fingerprinted and pass an aptitude test. Application packets generally come with a fee attached because the fingerprinting and background check aren't free for the schools to obtain. At the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, for example, the application is $10, whereas at the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, the fee is $50.