How to hire an assistant language teacher

How to hire an assistant language teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant language teacher hiring guide:

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

What does an assistant language teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an assistant language teacher, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An assistant language teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, assistant language teachers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of assistant language teachers.

   Type of Assistant Language Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Language Teacher	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$9-15
   Teacher/Tutor	A teacher/tutor is primarily in charge of facilitating discussions and other learning activities for students. Their duties typically revolve around developing lesson plans and teaching materials, assessing the progress of students through quizzes and examinations, assisting students in areas they find difficult, and helping them develop their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills... Show more	$12-33
   Teacher Aide	Teacher aides help lead teachers in managing the classroom. They assist teachers in conducting classroom sessions by setting up the classroom in advance, sourcing materials needed for class activities, helping in presentations, and guiding students during class activities... Show more	$11-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • Classroom Management
   • English-Language
   • Classroom Environment
   • Language Curriculum
   • Elementary Schools
   • Direct Care
   • Mathematics
   • IEP
   • at-Risk Youth
   • Behavioral Problems
   • Educational Development
   • ESL
   • Art Projects

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
   • Develop understanding of local language and culture through personal relationships with residents and town officials, and participation in community events.
   • Proofread and correct students' written essays.
   • Create and teach ESL lesson plans in Japanese junior high schools.
   • Design games, songs and visual aids to incorporate mathematics into everyday activities.
   • Assist with the implementation of the program as outlined in the IEP of each student.

   More assistant language teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant language teacher job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An assistant language teacher can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, assistant language teachers' average salary in south carolina is 33% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant language teachers 42% less than senior-level assistant language teachers.
   • Certifications. An assistant language teacher with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an assistant language teacher's salary.

   Average assistant language teacher salary

   $12.43hourly

   $25,862 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level assistant language teacher salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average assistant language teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$30,472	$15
   2	New York	$30,462	$15
   3	California	$29,635	$14
   4	Minnesota	$28,272	$14
   5	Colorado	$28,103	$14
   6	New Jersey	$25,899	$12
   7	Pennsylvania	$25,573	$12
   8	Nevada	$25,449	$12
   9	Texas	$25,336	$12
   10	North Carolina	$24,361	$12
   11	Wisconsin	$23,744	$11
   12	Michigan	$22,420	$11
   13	Maryland	$22,403	$11
   14	Florida	$22,141	$11

   Average assistant language teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Rutgers University	$42,308	$20.34	38
   2	Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children	$30,281	$14.56
   3	Learning Care Group	$29,549	$14.21	896
   4	Endeavor Schools	$28,345	$13.63	69
   5	University of Notre Dame	$27,257	$13.10	1
   6	Fraser Ltd	$26,704	$12.84	15
   7	Childcare Network	$26,095	$12.55
   8	KinderCare Education	$26,090	$12.54	1,889
   9	YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids	$25,455	$12.24	41
   10	North Country School	$24,711	$11.88
   11	Salvation Army North	$24,599	$11.83
   12	Wayne RESA	$24,452	$11.76	158
   13	The Salvation Army	$24,404	$11.73	59

4. Writing an assistant language teacher job description

   A good assistant language teacher job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an assistant language teacher job description:

   Assistant language teacher job description example

   THIS POSITION IS OFFERING A $500 SIGN-ON BONUS!
   
   Little Sprouts is currently seeking an Assistant Teacher to join our team in Concord. Little Sprouts is a network of 39 preschools and early learning centers across New England. We prioritize employee experience and are closed the week between Christmas and New Year. This offers you a guaranteed week of paid time off upon hire.
   
   Our school director in Concord carries more than 15 years of leadership experience and is a trusted and dedicated mentor.
   
   Whether you have recently earned your Early Childhood Certification, are a field veteran, or are looking to evolve your classroom experience, Little Sprouts may be a great fit.
   
   A TYPICAL DAY LOOKS LIKE:
   
   Eight-hour shift (openers typically arrive at 6:00 am; closers typically stay until 7:00 pm - COVID precautions and policies may impact these hours).
   
   Following and maintaining all state-mandated COVID precautions and policies for early learning centers.
   
   Designated one-hour break per shift.
   
   Following a schedule that helps children establish healthy eating, sleeping, and bathroom routines.
   
   Working in close contact with your co-teacher and school colleagues.
   
   Implementing and evolving our Budding Scholars™ curriculum.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   Demonstrate kindness and respect for self, others, and our community.
   
   Skilled in play-based learning approaches and social-emotional education.
   
   Deliver required paperwork and complete lesson plans on time.
   
   REQUIREMENTS:
   
   Adhere to all MA Public Health and Child Care Regulations.
   
   Authorize state-required background checks and CORI.
   
   Act as mandated reporter, both on and off campus.
   
   Help ensure classroom environments adhere to NAEYC's Anti-Bias Early Education.
   
   Ability to stand, move, run, and play for most of the day.
   
   Ability to lift up to 30 pounds multiple times a day.
   
   BENEFITS:
   
   Paid week off between Christmas & New Years.
   
   Competitive wages.
   
   75-50% off discount on your children's tuition.
   
   Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and pet insurance.
   
   401k with company match.
   
   Tuition reimbursement.
   
   Career advancement and coaching.
   
   Additional Paid Time off and Holidays.
   
   Referral Program.
   
   Little Sprouts LLC is a subsidiary of Babilou Group, a global network of 1,100 preschools and early education centers. The company provides award-winning early education and childcare in the Northeast US through Little Sprouts (MA & NH), Building Blocks), and Heartworks, Loveworks & STEAMworks (VT). Our employees are passionate about serving children and families with joy and confidence every day, so we can create a family experience that is much more than just daycare. Together, we are on a meaningful journey to elevate those who dedicate their careers to helping children learn, thrive, and grow.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find assistant language 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 assistant language teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level assistant language 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 assistant language teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant language teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with assistant language teacher candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 assistant language teacher

   Once you've found the assistant language 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new assistant language 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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How much does it cost to hire an assistant language teacher?