How to hire a 5th grade teacher

How to hire a 5th grade teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step 5th 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 5th grade teacher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new 5th grade teacher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a 5th grade teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the 5th grade teacher you need to hire. Certain 5th 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a 5th grade teacher to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a 5th grade teacher that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of 5th grade teachers.

   Type of 5th Grade Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   5th Grade Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$15-30
   Language Arts Teacher	A language arts teacher is responsible for teaching the English language to the students, improving their written and oral English communication by sharing the best practices, conducting engaging lesson plans, assigning group activities, and providing comprehensive educational materials. Language arts teachers strictly adhere to the learning curriculum, as well as monitoring the students' progress through individual evaluation, identifying their areas of improvement, and adjust learning strategies to address the difficulties... Show more	$19-31
   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:

   • Classroom Management
   • Math
   • Professional Development
   • Social Studies
   • Student Learning
   • Instructional Materials
   • Language Arts
   • Student Achievement
   • State Standards
   • Student Performance
   • Instructional Strategies
   • Learning Styles
   • Learning Process
   • IEP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Collaborate with peers to enhance the instructional environment, implement kindergarten through second grade state standards and follow district curriculum maps.
   • Support literacy through the implementation of reading and writing workshops that are based on at-risk and ESL students.
   • Conduct RTI for a small group of tier 2 reading level students daily to improve literacy and writing skills.
   • Provide lesson plans, IEP's, progress reports and attend to the day-to-day activities for children with special needs.
   • Develop strategies to collect data to use in PST meetings for students in need of an IEP and support services.
   • Assist kindergarten and 1st grade teachers with setting up activities, administering tests, grading work, and reviewing student progress.

   More 5th grade teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the 5th grade teacher job description is a good way to get more applicants. A 5th grade teacher salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a 5th grade teacher in Idaho may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level 5th grade teacher. Additionally, a 5th grade teacher with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average 5th grade teacher salary

   $46,300yearly

   $22.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level 5th grade teacher salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average 5th grade teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$61,075	$29
   2	New Jersey	$61,061	$29
   3	Massachusetts	$60,347	$29
   4	California	$58,084	$28
   5	Maryland	$56,905	$27
   6	New York	$55,437	$27
   7	Michigan	$53,203	$26
   8	Washington	$50,022	$24
   9	Illinois	$48,800	$23
   10	New Mexico	$46,961	$23
   11	Texas	$46,841	$23
   12	Virginia	$45,899	$22
   13	Iowa	$42,131	$20
   14	Florida	$41,484	$20
   15	North Carolina	$41,376	$20
   16	Indiana	$40,120	$19
   17	Colorado	$39,654	$19
   18	Nevada	$39,013	$19
   19	Arizona	$38,836	$19

   Average 5th grade teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	CAI	$63,701	$30.63
   2	Excel Academy Charter Schools	$61,645	$29.64	8
   3	DC Prep	$59,003	$28.37	6
   4	Piedmont Unified School District	$56,335	$27.08	4
   5	Yeshiva-Bruriah-RTMA	$56,072	$26.96
   6	Shady Side Academy	$55,760	$26.81	10
   7	Madera High School	$54,821	$26.36	9
   8	Summit Public Schools	$54,303	$26.11	50
   9	KIPP Northern California Public Schools	$53,759	$25.85	124
   10	Chicago Public Schools	$53,655	$25.80	27
   11	Yeshiva Toras Chaim	$53,428	$25.69
   12	Montgomery County Public Schools	$53,234	$25.59	17
   13	Liberty Middle School	$52,942	$25.45	5
   14	Distinctive Schools	$52,760	$25.37	9
   15	Camino Nuevo Charter Academy	$51,987	$24.99	6
   16	International Charter School of Atlanta	$51,657	$24.84	2
   17	Aspen School District	$51,122	$24.58	7
   18	Scholar Academies	$50,985	$24.51	9
   19	Wentzville R Iv School District	$50,907	$24.47	11
   20	Bpe	$50,751	$24.40

4. Writing a 5th grade teacher job description

   A 5th 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 5th grade teacher job description:

   5th grade teacher job description example

   We are a thriving nonprofit network of 17 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical partner in making their vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose-college, career, and beyond-so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.
   
   Our student community consists of over 6,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, Redwood City, and Stockton. Our student community demographics are: 94% identify as students of color, 79% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 23% are English language learners, and 10% receive special education services. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students' diversity.
   
   Our schools are looking for talented and committed Elementary Teachers to play a key role in the establishment of curriculum and culture as they develop a high quality education program from the stages of vision to execution.
   
   Our students deserve continuously strong teaching from the time they enter kindergarten until they graduate from college or begin a career. As such, our Elementary Teachers will work closely with each school's leadership team to ensure our students learn, grow, and achieve transformative life outcomes. Each Elementary Teacher will be responsible for ensuring that our students have the opportunity to learn in an environment of joyful, excellent, and equitable teaching.
   
   Above all else, the most effective Elementary Teacher will find joy and purpose in teaching children the habits necessary to be successful in school, and they will relish the opportunity to cultivate our students with a love for learning. They must also be committed to KIPP Public Schools Northern California's mission, while possessing the beliefs, character traits, and skills necessary to ensure student growth and achievement.
   
   Elementary Teachers are expected to plan, organize and implement an appropriate instructional program in a TK-12 learning environment, both in an in-person classroom setting and virtually, that guides and encourages students to develop and fulfill their academic and socio-emotional potential. Work is performed under the supervision of the principal or direct manager.
   Ideal KIPP Teacher Qualities: Model KIPP values Be committed to being an anti-racist educator Believe all students can achieve at the highest academic levels Possess strong content area knowledge and skills building relationships with students, families, and communities Teach in our extended day and year schedule Contribute to a relentless and dedicated team of outstanding professionals Communicate well with students, families, and colleagues Have proficient knowledge of Google Suite applications (Google Classroom, Hangout, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) Have the ability to learn and utilize instructional technology to support in-class and distance learning (i.e. Zoom, Nearpod) Hold a B.A/B.S degree from a regionally accredited institution Hold a valid teaching credential, be in the process of securing a credential, or be willing to commit to earning a credential while teaching KIPP. Preferred Qualifications Experience as an educator teaching students with similar demographics to our KIPP NorCal student community Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese or Mandarin speaking proficiency Health & Safety Per California state requirements for public schools, all staff must be vaccinated (COVID-19 vaccination) or submit to regular and frequent testing. Our schools are engaged in on campus (in-person) learning, full time, 5 days a week. Please click here to read more about our health & safety measures at our schools. Compensation We are dedicated to you and your family's well-being! KIPP offers a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and transportation benefits. Salary Scale Questions? Email us at [email protected]

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right 5th grade teacher for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your 5th grade teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit 5th grade teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit 5th grade teachers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 5th grade teacher

   Once you've found the 5th grade teacher candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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How much does it cost to hire a 5th grade teacher?