How to hire a 1st grade teacher

How to hire a 1st grade teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step 1st grade teacher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a 1st grade teacher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new 1st grade teacher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a 1st grade teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the 1st grade teacher you need to hire. Certain 1st grade teacher roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect 1st grade teacher also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of 1st grade teacher salaries for various roles:

   Type of 1st Grade Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   1st Grade Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$15-31
   Social Studies Teacher	Teachers that specialize in human society are called social studies teachers. Usually, they are found at a high school and secondary school level... Show more	$17-32
   Elementary School Teacher	Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom... Show more	$17-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kids
   • Math
   • Language Arts
   • ESL
   • Social Studies
   • Bilingual Education
   • Kindergarten
   • Classroom Management
   • Classroom Environment
   • Professional Development
   • Student Learning
   • Instructional Materials
   • English Language
   • Student Achievement

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage classes in an inclusive setting in collaboration with para-professionals and other professionals involve with the IEP team.
   • Implement ESL strategies within daily lesson plans.
   • Collaborate with an ESL specialist to differentiate instruction for a student.
   • Continue data analysis to guide RTI for specific instructional needs grade level wide.
   • Help moved students through the process of RTI to meet their individual needs.
   • Support school-wide PBIS in classroom focusing on safe, responsible and respectful behavior.

   More 1st grade teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your 1st grade teacher job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A 1st grade teacher salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a 1st grade teacher in Idaho may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level 1st grade teacher usually earns less than a senior-level 1st grade teacher. Additionally, a 1st grade teacher with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average 1st grade teacher salary

   $46,448yearly

   $22.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level 1st grade teacher salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average 1st grade teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$64,931	$31
   2	California	$62,757	$30
   3	Illinois	$52,137	$25
   4	Oregon	$51,181	$25
   5	Minnesota	$50,275	$24
   6	Ohio	$47,060	$23
   7	New Hampshire	$45,898	$22
   8	New Mexico	$45,329	$22
   9	Texas	$42,490	$20
   10	Utah	$42,227	$20
   11	Indiana	$40,486	$19
   12	Colorado	$40,202	$19
   13	Louisiana	$39,957	$19
   14	South Dakota	$39,318	$19
   15	Arizona	$39,207	$19
   16	Nevada	$38,151	$18
   17	Oklahoma	$32,031	$15

   Average 1st grade teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Jefferson Elementary School District	$59,626	$28.67	11
   2	Madera High School	$56,733	$27.28	10
   3	Union County Public Schools	$56,161	$27.00	123
   4	Houston ISD Foundation	$53,963	$25.94	16
   5	KIPP Northern California Public Schools	$53,058	$25.51	100
   6	Camino Nuevo Charter Academy	$52,685	$25.33	10
   7	Distinctive Schools	$52,507	$25.24	6
   8	American Montessori Society	$51,238	$24.63
   9	Bright Star Schools	$50,527	$24.29	10
   10	Durham Public Schools	$50,523	$24.29	296
   11	Charter Schools USA	$50,412	$24.24
   12	Bedford Public Schools	$50,316	$24.19	3
   13	Leman Academy of Excellence, Inc.	$50,094	$24.08	23
   14	KIPP Austin Public Schools	$49,962	$24.02	266
   15	Tyler Isd	$49,897	$23.99
   16	Lighthouse Community Public Schools	$49,501	$23.80	6
   17	Berkeley High School	$49,289	$23.70	14
   18	BRIDGES Charter School	$49,229	$23.67	3
   19	Hayward Unified School District	$48,992	$23.55
   20	Jefferson Parish Public Schools	$48,824	$23.47	24

4. Writing a 1st grade teacher job description

   A 1st grade teacher job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a 1st grade teacher job description:

   1st grade teacher job description example

   CLASS TITLE: Bilingual Education Teacher
   
   CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS: Under the supervision of the school principal, responsible for instruction, specialized services and support to students for the purposes of developing the students' ability to effectively perform courses of study in the English language, discipline of all students in assigned classes, and performs related duties as required.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Responsible for instructional planning, including, but not limited to, providing lessons plans and preparation for each assigned student in accordance with the objectives of the instructional program, Chicago Public Schools' policies and procedures, Illinois Learning Standards, and state and federal law; administering tests and language assessments for the purpose of evaluating students' language ability; assessing students' progress, expectations, and goals in the bilingual program, developing and delivering lesson plans that utilize appropriate instructional techniques that enable limited English proficient students to overcome barriers that impede equal participation by these students in the district's instructional programs; establishing positive learning expectation standards for students, and evaluating students' progress and maintaining current and accurate records of students' achievements; implementing instructional methods, including, but not limited to applying contemporary principles of learning theory and teaching methodology, drawing from the range of instructional materials available in the school, participating in the development and implementation of new teaching techniques, and providing bulletin board and interest areas reflective of students' current work; exhibiting and applying knowledge of the curriculum content related to subject areas and instructional level; participating in programs to improve student attendance; promoting anti-vandalism programs in the schools; establishing and maintaining responsible rules of conduct within the classroom and on school grounds, including but not limited to, playgrounds, corridors, and lunchrooms, consistent with the provisions of the Chicago Public Schools' Uniform Discipline Code; maintaining accurate attendance records and seating charts, encouraging student growth in self-discipline and positive self-concept; ensures fairness in teacher-student relationships and exhibits and understanding and respect for students; initiating appropriate conferences with parents, guardians, administrators, and/or ancillary personnel, in accordance with school procedures; communicating with parents or guardians and counsels students on the student's academic progress, attendance, and conduct; participating in in-service meetings and professional staff meetings and using pertinent information and materials provided; may coordinate and attend class field trips; may work in extra-curricular and after-school activities; utilizing appropriate resources available in the community.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Education and Experience:Successful completion of all student teaching requirements as well as all course work required to obtain the appropriate teaching license(s) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education.
   
   Licensure Requirements Must possess the appropriate Illinois State Board of Education issued educator license with a bilingual endorsement in the grade level being taught.
   
   Knowledge, Abilities, and Skill: Knowledge of subject matter consistent with state certification requirements, knowledge of contemporary principles and practices of teaching, knowledge of classroom and behavior management techniques which includes the following:
   
   Ability to modify instruction to meet student needs, ability to cooperate with the school faculty and administration in the development and implementation of an articulated program of instruction, ability to work effectively with students, parents, and guardians, staff members, and community representatives in providing an appropriate educational program; ability to understand the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional patterns of students.
   
   Skill in the application of contemporary principles and practices of teaching, good oral and written communication skills, good interpersonal skills, skill in exercising sound and professional judgment.
   
   Physical Requirements:Light Work: Exerting up to twenty (20) pounds of force occasionally, or up to ten (10) pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demands include the ability to stoop occasionally, reach frequently, handle objects occasionally, talk and hear constantly, frequent use of near visual acuity, and occasional use of far visual acuity.
   
   '317031

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find 1st grade teachers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any 1st grade teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level 1st grade teachers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your 1st grade teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit 1st grade teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting 1st grade teachers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new 1st grade teacher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the 1st grade teacher position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new 1st grade teacher first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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