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How to hire a drama teacher

Drama teacher hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring drama teachers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a drama teacher is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new drama teacher to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a drama teacher, step by step

To hire a drama teacher, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a drama teacher, you should follow these steps:

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

    Before you start hiring a drama 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?

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

    Here's a comparison of drama teacher salaries for various roles:

    Type of Drama TeacherDescriptionHourly rate
    Drama TeacherKindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.$17-34
    High School English TeacherHigh School English teachers help students with literacy, grammar, literature, vocabulary, and literature. Their duties typically include developing and implementing lesson plans, preparing the course curriculum, and evaluating students' work... Show more$17-32
    English Language Arts TeacherEnglish language teachers are in charge of establishing a classroom setting that advance in each student the skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. They assist in the development and recognition of fine literature of all types, inspire students to read extensively for information and recreation, and develop guidelines for analytical judgment of written and oral communication... Show more$17-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Classroom Management
    • Kids
    • Public Speaking
    • Creative Drama
    • Learning Environment
    • Imagination
    • Literature
    • Public Schools
    • Classroom Environment
    • Language Arts
    • Class Curriculum
    • K-12
    • K-8
    • Instructional Materials
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead individualized and group therapy for elementary school children with language delays and articulation disorders.
    • Focuse instruction on grammar and authentic conversation, using many interactive techniques to achieve progress.
    • People CMM) and office assistant.
    • Initiate designed, and teach acting classes to teach ESL
    • Perform weekly and teach various classes on improv comedy.
    • Plan and provide instructional services to students with multiple handicap grades k-12.
    More drama teacher duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    Average drama teacher salary

    $51,164yearly

    $24.60 hourly rate

    Entry-level drama teacher salary
    $36,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average drama teacher salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New Jersey$67,330$32
    2California$61,441$30
    3Massachusetts$59,786$29
    4New York$59,564$29
    5Connecticut$58,302$28
    6North Dakota$47,974$23
    7Georgia$46,521$22
    8Florida$46,273$22
    9Colorado$44,598$21
    10Texas$40,591$20
    11Arizona$39,389$19

    Average drama teacher salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Collegiate School$60,469$29.075
    2Orinda Union School District$56,654$27.241
    3Aspire Public Schools$56,066$26.9558
    4KIPP DC$55,703$26.7855
    5Sri Lanka Army$51,319$24.67
    6Fargo Public Schools$50,007$24.0431
    7Newton Public Schools$48,667$23.408
    8St. Clare Catholic School$48,255$23.2030
    9Housatonic Valley Waldorf School$47,238$22.711
    10Charter Schools USA$45,052$21.66
    11Drama Kids Intl$42,367$20.379
    12Lompoc Unified School District$41,837$20.115
    13Pueblo City-County Library District$39,704$19.09
  4. Writing a drama teacher job description

    A drama 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 drama teacher job description:

    Drama teacher job description example

    We are currently accepting applications for the 2022-23 school year.

    Aspire Public Schools is mandating COVID-19 vaccination and testing, which varies between *LAUSD co-located and non-co-located school sites. All job applicants must be prepared to show proof of vaccination and/or request and receive and exemption. All Aspire employees must also test for COVID-19 weekly in accordance with Aspire policy and legal requirements. Please note that compliance with the policy is a precondition of employment. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

    *Effective October 16, 2021, LAUSD prohibits Aspire from allowing unvaccinated employees on District property and Aspire must adhere to this directive pursuant to its facilities use agreements with the District. In instances where Aspire is not able to accommodate a teammate's onsite, it will consider other accommodations including telework (if available based on essential functions of the job), medical leave or unpaid leave of absence.

    About Aspire:
    Aspire Public Schools operates 40 high-performing, college-preparatory public charter schools serving 16,000 students in underserved communities across California and in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1998, Aspire is one of the nation's largest open-enrollment public charter school systems serving predominantly low-income students, and delivering a rigorous College for Certain education to students in grades K-12.

    Our promise at Aspire Public Schools is that every child receives a high-quality education to prepare them for success in college, career and life. Every day, our community of students, parents, teachers and staff come together to learn and grow so that every child's aspirations are within reach.

    The Opportunity:
    Behind every successful student is a team of passionate and dedicated educators. As an instructor at Aspire, you will deliver high-quality instruction within a small school environment where every student is known and valued as an individual. In addition, you will empower students to take control of their own learning and contribute to the continuous improvement of our nationally recognized model. Your professional learning community will provide a supportive and collaborative environment to fuel your growth and development. Together, we will change the odds for underserved students, ensuring that every student is prepared to earn a college degree.

    What You Will Do:

    • Establish a culture of high expectations that includes the shared belief that every student will attend college
    • Develop and implement lesson plans and classroom activities aligned with California State Standards and Aspire Instructional Guidelines
    • Assess students regularly and refine and differentiate classroom instruction based on assessment data and student needs
    • Communicate regularly with students and families and involve families as partners in their child's education
    • Identify unique student needs and collaborate with team members to effectively address those needs and improve instructional practices throughout the school
    • Actively participate in professional development activities, and work closely with lead teachers, principal, and instructional coaches

    What You Will Bring:

    • Bachelor's degree
    • Valid English Teaching Credential required
    • 1+ year working with students as a teacher, teacher intern, or teaching assistant preferred
    • Knowledge of subject matter, including State Standards and subject-specific frameworks
    • Knowledge of child cognitive development and various learning styles
    • Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative student data
    • Ability and willingness to reflect and improve instructional practices

    Compensation:
    Competitive

    Aspire Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Aspire promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right drama teacher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with drama teachers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit drama teachers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your drama teacher job on Zippia to find and attract quality drama teacher candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with drama 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.

    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 drama teacher

    Once you've selected the best drama teacher candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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 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 drama teacher?

Before you start to hire drama teachers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire drama teachers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $51,164 per year for a drama teacher, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for drama teachers in the US typically range between $17 and $34 an hour.

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