How to hire a childhood development teacher

How to hire a childhood development teacher, step by step

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

Post a childhood development teacher job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a childhood development 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

   Hiring the perfect childhood development 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of childhood development teachers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Childhood Development Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Childhood Development Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$9-28
   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
   Teacher	Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world... Show more	$15-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • CPR
   • Child Development
   • Child Care
   • Mathematics
   • Instructional Materials
   • Parent Conferences
   • Early Childhood Development
   • Social Development
   • Professional Development
   • Children Ages
   • Language Development
   • Learning Environment
   • Classroom Environment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
   • Develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum for toddler program, ensuring that appropriate opportunities are provided in order to maximize learning potential.
   • Set up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers in accordance with ECERS and ITERS-R assessments.

   More childhood development teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your childhood development teacher job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A childhood development 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 childhood development teacher in South Dakota may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level childhood development teacher usually earns less than a senior-level childhood development teacher. Additionally, a childhood development 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 childhood development teacher salary

   $16.73hourly

   $34,797 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level childhood development teacher salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average childhood development teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$47,900	$23
   2	Maryland	$44,895	$22
   3	California	$42,099	$20
   4	Illinois	$37,222	$18
   5	Texas	$34,911	$17
   6	Oklahoma	$28,637	$14

   Average childhood development teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Montgomery County Public Schools	$47,544	$22.86	12
   2	Learning Care Group	$34,826	$16.74	635
   3	Soccer Shots	$34,235	$16.46	107
   4	district	$31,189	$14.99	9
   5	Temple Shaaray Tefila	$28,229	$13.57

4. Writing a childhood development teacher job description

   A good childhood development 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 childhood development teacher job description:

   Childhood development teacher job description example

   Job DescriptionEarly Childhood Development Soccer Instructor PART TIME
   
   Soccer Shots The Woodlands/Spring is hiring part-time instructors! Our exciting and engaging programs serve children ages 2-8 in daycares, preschools, and public parks across the North Houston area. Our public parks and childcare facilities are located in The Woodlands, Spring, Tomball, Conroe, Magnolia, and Willis. This unique position provides candidates with an opportunity to build their resume as they serve in childcare centers as early childhood educators, account managers and, of course, soccer coaches. Our programs are year-round Monday through Saturday, and our 30-45 minute sessions are generally between 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM weekdays and 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Saturdays (flexible hours for those looking for as little as 5 hours per week to those looking for 30 hours per week). We provide training, soccer equipment, and all curriculum materials. We offer rewarding work in a great environment with flexible schedules and GREAT PAY ($16-$20 per 30-35 minute session). At most locations, there will be multiple classes, meaning you may be instructing 2-3 consecutive sessions ($32-$48 for less than 2 hours of work). Additionally, our staff is fun and friendly; you can expect to be part of a group that cares for another, works hard and has fun doing it. Our office is centrally located near Six Pines Drive and Woodlands Parkway, and our office doors are always open to our coaches! In addition to weekly meetings, we also celebrate with team outings and regularly connect for a game of soccer, beach volleyball or just to grab a meal.
   Visit us at soccershots.com/woodlands
   
   
   The ideal instructor should meet the following criteria:
   
   
   Experience with and a passion for working with children is necessary; soccer playing experience is preferred but not required. Must be 18 years of age and/or have received a high school diploma. Caring: Very patient and understanding of kids, has true passion for children, sports and upholding the goals and core values of Soccer Shots. Organized: Arrives on time to each session, communicates well with Soccer Shots leadership and other coaching staff, completes administrative tasks to satisfaction Responsible: Can handle a group of 10 or more children, maintains professionalism in appearance, friendly and courteous with day are center staff and director as well as parents, self-assured. Enthusiastic: Must enjoy interacting with young children (2-8 years old), and be able to connect with them on their level, being goofy, using your imagination, and watching kids smile. Reliable Transportation: Must have a safe and reliable car, valid driver’s license, car insurance and clean driving record. You are responsible for driving yourself to your sites. In addition to the above, a successful candidate must pass a Child Abuse History Clearance and Background Check and be CPR and first aid certified (or willing to get CPR certified).
   
   Soccer Shots - The Woodlands/Spring
   
   Soccer Shots is an engaging, non-competitive children's soccer program with a focus on character development. Our caring team positively impacts children's lives on and off the field through best-in-class coaching, curriculum and communication.
   
   The best coaches in the business
   
   
   Every Soccer Shots coach completes our comprehensive training program to receive certification. All Soccer Shots coaches are trained in the use of developmentally appropriate techniques. Coaches are routinely evaluated and undergo ongoing training. Our coach selection process evaluates not only the ability to coach soccer, but also the ability to engage and inspire children. An exceptional customer experience with ongoing communication
   
   
   Families receive a weekly summary of what their child is learning at Soccer Shots. We proactively communicate cancellations due to weather or other circumstances. Our staff understands the importance of timely, responsive communication. Expert-approved curriculum that aligns with early childhood education standards
   
   
   Our developmentally appropriate curriculum places an emphasis on character development and skill building. Our program is created under the guidance of childhood education specialists, professional soccer players and experienced and licensed soccer coaches. We constantly re-evaluate and update our curriculum to stay current with childhood education standards. If you have a passion for positively impacting children, we’d love to talk to you!
   
   Soccer Shots is an international franchise brand with franchises in 34 states and Canada. This position is for your local franchise. Visit soccershots.com to learn more and/or for franchising opportunities.
   
   Company Website www.soccershots.com/woodlands

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find childhood development teachers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your childhood development teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit childhood development 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

   Recruiting childhood development 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 childhood development teacher

   Once you've decided on a perfect childhood development teacher candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new childhood development teacher. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a childhood development teacher?