Substitute teacher pay in West Virginia can vary greatly depending on the school district, but on average, substitute teachers in this state are paid slightly below the national average for substitute teachers. Substitute teachers in West Virginia who work more than 90 days may qualify for benefits such as health insurance.

Average Pay

Substitute teachers in West Virginia are paid an average of $24,360 per year, less than the national average of $29,350 for this position, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The hourly wage for substitute teachers in West Virginia is $11.71, compared to the national hourly wage of $14.11. However, this hourly wage depends on the school district and its budget. For example, southern West Virginia non-metropolitan area substitute teachers have an average income of $26,600 and an average hourly wage of $12.79, according to the BLS.

State Pay Rates

The state of West Virginia sets standards for substitute teacher pay rates. West Virginia Code mandates that substitute teachers must be paid at least 80 percent of the daily rate of the state basic salary paid to teachers, according to the West Virginia Legislature website. It also requires that school districts increase substitute teacher pay based on the length of the teaching position. If a substitute teacher works more than 10 consecutive days in the same position, he must be paid at least 80 percent of the daily rate of the state advanced salary based on teaching experience. If a substitute works more than 30 days in the same position, he must be paid 100 percent of the daily rate of the advanced salary within that district.

Geographic State and Metropolitan Salary Map for Substitute Teachers

Education Level

Education level can affect the amount of pay that a substitute teacher receives in West Virginia. With no prior teaching experience, full-time teachers earn between $30,000 and $34,000 per year with a bachelor’s degree, $32,000 to $36,000 per year with a master’s degree, and $36,000 to $40,000 per year with a doctorate degree, according to the West Virginia Department of Education website. Substitute teachers earn at least 80 percent of these pay figures, depending on their education levels and teacher salaries within the individual district.

Substitute Qualifications

West Virginia has different requirements for short- and long-term substitute teachers. Short-term substitutes -- those working fewer than 30 consecutive days in the same position -- must hold a short-term substitute teaching certificate, which requires a bachelor’s degree, a minimum 2.0 GPA and a recommendation from the county where the individual wants to teach. Long-term substitute teachers -- those working in the same position for more than 30 consecutive days, must have a long-term substitute teaching certificate. To get this certificate, applicants must meet the same requirements as the short-term substitute teaching certificate, but they must also indicate an area or areas of specialty and have completed at least 12 semester hours of coursework for each area, or hold a valid West Virginia professional certificate. All applicants for both certificates must also take three days or 18 hours of training and pass a background check.