How to hire a drill instructor

How to hire a drill instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step drill instructor hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a drill instructor, 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 drill instructor 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of drill instructors.

   Type of Drill Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Drill Instructor		$15-41
   Directional Driller	A Directional Driller specializes in drilling wells at different angles for better sources. They operate a variety of tools and machinery, follow guidelines, and conduct measurements and assessments to ensure quality and efficiency... Show more	$16-39
   Driller	A driller is responsible for reviewing and analyzing drilling parameters to perform the drilling procedures safely and successfully. Drillers inspect drilling tools and equipment before and after the operations to ensure its operational efficiency and optimal performance... Show more	$18-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Standards
   • Combat
   • Direct Supervision
   • Platoon
   • Core Values
   • Training Schedules
   • at-Risk Youth
   • Role Model
   • CPR
   • Professional Development
   • Training Cycle
   • Substance Abuse
   • Training Programs
   • Incident Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all land and training area use, ammunition use / forecasting, requisitioning, allocations, and inspection.
   • Provide instruction to recruits, including basic combat skills, fundamentals of service life, and small arms use.
   • Review, grade, and teach students general chemistry course material.
   • Work with young adults while they pursue their GED's through the youth challenge program.
   • Assist the senior drill instructor with all platoon administrative matters and conduct the day to day operations of the platoon.
   • Operate Excellon CNC drill machines, plater (assist with running scrub machines and various plating lines as needed).

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your drill instructor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A drill instructor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, drill instructors' average salary in louisiana is 50% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level drill instructors earn 63% less than senior-level drill instructors.
   • Certifications. A drill instructor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a drill instructor's salary.

   Average drill instructor salary

   $53,231yearly

   $25.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level drill instructor salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a drill instructor job description

   A drill instructor 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a drill instructor job description:

   Drill instructor job description example

   EDUCATION AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:
   
   * High school diploma or equivalent
   * Has previous experience as an effective coach in the assigned sport
   
   LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS or CERTIFICATIONS:
   
   * Criminal background check required for hire
   * All Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) member school coaches of interscholastic activity programs who assume full responsibility for students under their direction at any level shall be either
   * A certified teacher or administrator holding a current license issued by the Colorado Department of Education; or
   * Employed as a teacher, counselor and or administrator at least 50% of the school day in a private school; or
   * A coach registered with the CHSAA.
   * Coaches not holding a CDE-issued teacher or administrator license can NOT be a current District non-exempt staff member and shall be registered with the CHSAA in one of the following capacities:
   * One-year Coaching Registration requested by a member school; or
   * A one-time renewal of the above one-year registration; or
   * Permanent Coaching Registration (applied for and held by individual coach).
   * All coaches must have CPR and Concussion Protocol training
   
   SUMMARY:
   
   Assist the head coach in instructing athletes in the fundamental skills, strategy and physical training necessary for them to realize a degree of individual and team success. Provide instruction that will lead to the formulation of moral values, pride of accomplishment, acceptable social behavior, self-discipline and self-confidence. The success of athletic programs has a strong influence on the community's image of the entire school system and the public exposure is a considerable responsibility. However, community/parent pressure to win must not override the objectives of good sportsmanship and good mental health for student participants. All coaching assignments will be for one school year and may or may not be renewed based on administrator recommendations and School Board approval.
   
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   1. Assist the head coach in various aspects of the sport-specific program. Supervise and monitor all sport-specific athletes and activities to ensure programs of high standards.
   
   2. Conduct self in an appropriate professional manner at all times, serving as a role model for the other coaches and student athletes.
   
   3. Work with the head coach to ensure that practice periods for the sport stay within the confines of the time specified by the Athletic Director and CHSAA.
   
   4. Promote effective communication between schools and community by creating positive support for continued improvement of the programs.
   
   5. Attend all sport-specific athletic practices and games.
   
   6. Assist head coach during summer athletic camp activities to promote the sport.
   
   7. Is responsible for the general upkeep, protection and inventory of equipment under his/her jurisdiction.
   
   8. Be available to assist in preparing practice and game field/court for practices and games.
   
   9. Communicate and adhere to training rules and other unique regulations of the sport to each athlete who is considered a participant.
   
   10. Communicate quality, useful and valid information to the head coach so that he/she is able to provide accurate information to the district, community and media.
   
   11. Maintain good public relations with news media, booster club, parents, officials, volunteers, fans, and opponents.
   
   12. Maintain multiple communication avenues for parents of student athletes and effective conflict resolution strategies.
   
   13. Assist head coach in paper work and filing of all appropriate documents.
   
   14. Understand the proper administrative chain of command and refer all requests, concerns or grievances through the proper channels.
   
   15. Perform other duties as assigned.
   
   TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:
   
   * Excellent interpersonal skills
   * Ability to organize, direct, and supervise a districtwide sport program
   * Substantial knowledge of the technical aspects of the sport and willing to examine new theories and procedures important to athletics
   * Advanced leadership skills
   * Customer service and media/public relations skills
   * Critical thinking and problem solving skills
   * Budget development and fiscal management skills
   * Knowledge of CHSAA rules, regulations, policies and procedures
   * Ability to diffuse and manage volatile and stressful situations
   * Ability to communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse ethnic and
   
   educational backgrounds
   * Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator
   * Ability to promote and follow Board of Education policies and building and department procedures
   
   MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:
   
   * Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers and peripherals
   * Operating knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Word and Excel
   * Operating knowledge of and experience with typical equipment associated with the sport being coached
   * Operating knowledge and use of the District's athletic scheduling software
   
   SALARY:
   
   Coaches are paid on the Professional Staff Supplementary Pay Plans Salary Schedule
   
   Salary Schedule
   
   REFERENCES:
   
   Current FFC8 Head & Assistant Coaches
   
   * Must provide 3 references
   * Are NOT required to provide letters of recommendation
   
   Current FFC8 Assistant Coaches applying for Head Coaching positions
   
   * Must provide 3 references
   * Must provide letters of recommendation for each
   
   Applicants who are NOT current coaches at FFC8
   
   * Must provide 3 references
   * Must provide letters of recommendation for each

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right drill instructor 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 drill instructor job on Zippia to find and attract quality drill instructor candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting drill instructors 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 drill instructor

   Once you've selected the best drill instructor 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 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new drill instructor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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