How to hire a bilingual teacher

How to hire a bilingual teacher, step by step

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

What does a bilingual teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a bilingual 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

   A bilingual teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bilingual 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 bilingual teachers.

   Type of Bilingual Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Bilingual Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$19-30
   Teacher-In-Training	A teacher-in-training is a teaching professional who offers technical teaching assistance to teachers in developing effective behavior management and instructional strategies to support student learning. The teacher must collaborate with principals while employing diverse techniques to increase the effectiveness of student learning... Show more	$11-26
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Instructional Materials
   • English Language
   • Classroom Management
   • Public Schools
   • Bilingual Education
   • Classroom Environment
   • Learning Process
   • Administrative Regulations
   • ESL
   • Math
   • Mathematics
   • Learning Strategies
   • Social Growth
   • Student Performance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Guide and supervise this year's mathematics vertical curriculum alignment and curriculum mapping project across all grade levels.
   • Participate in IEP meetings with students and parents to discuss student growth and accommodations on a weekly basis.
   • Challenge students to master basic math concepts through implementation of manipulative, graphing, charting, and creative writing exercises.
   • Work cooperatively with other teachers to modify the curriculum as needed to help support the needs of students with an IEP.
   • Implement SIOP to increase language development and make grade-level academic content comprehensible to students.
   • Collaborate with bilingual teachers to implement and evaluate ethnic celebrations that promote language and culture.

   More bilingual teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the bilingual teacher job description is a good way to get more applicants. A bilingual 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 bilingual teacher in South Dakota may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level bilingual teacher. Additionally, a bilingual teacher with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average bilingual teacher salary

   $51,770yearly

   $24.89 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bilingual teacher salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average bilingual teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$69,842	$34
   2	New Jersey	$68,816	$33
   3	Texas	$50,686	$24
   4	Illinois	$50,046	$24
   5	Wisconsin	$46,833	$23
   6	Colorado	$42,597	$20

   Average bilingual teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Favorite Healthcare Staffing	$65,278	$31.38
   2	Lycée Français de San Francisco	$63,304	$30.43
   3	Edgewood Elementary School	$58,527	$28.14
   4	Chicago Public Schools	$57,959	$27.86	60
   5	Green Bay Schools	$57,562	$27.67
   6	Therapy Source	$57,524	$27.66	21
   7	Central Valley School District	$57,466	$27.63	14
   8	Hayward Unified School District	$57,301	$27.55	2
   9	Northshore School District	$57,277	$27.54	11
   10	North Arlington School District Nj	$57,019	$27.41	27
   11	Rochester City School District	$56,279	$27.06	8
   12	CUSD 200	$55,870	$26.86
   13	International Leadership of Texas	$55,205	$26.54	6
   14	Irving Isd	$54,959	$26.42	22
   15	DC International School	$54,719	$26.31
   16	New Brunswick Public Schools	$54,700	$26.30	28
   17	San Marcos Consolidated ISD	$54,588	$26.24	8
   18	Houston ISD Foundation	$54,397	$26.15	19
   19	New London Public Schools	$54,231	$26.07	59
   20	Everman ISD	$54,205	$26.06	24

4. Writing a bilingual teacher job description

   A good bilingual 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 a bilingual teacher job description:

   Bilingual 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.
   
   '317703

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find bilingual 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 bilingual teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level bilingual 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 bilingual teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit bilingual 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

   During your first interview to recruit bilingual teachers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 bilingual teacher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the bilingual 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 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 bilingual 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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