How to hire a driving instructor

How to hire a driving instructor, step by step

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

What does a driving instructor do?

Post a driving instructor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a driving 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a driving instructor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a driving instructor that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of driving instructors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Driving Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Driving Instructor		$15-37
   Dance Teacher	Dance Teachers are responsible for leading dance classes to teach individuals or groups of people various dancing techniques. Dance Teachers are required to help their students improve their dancing skills by participating in amateur or professional dance competitions or performing in social events such as high school reunions... Show more	$15-34
   Martial Arts Instructor	A martial arts instructor helps people understand the philosophy and history of their chosen martial art and teaches them the skills needed to take part safely. They train students in combat techniques, mostly for recreation or for self-defense... Show more	$11-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • DMV
   • Motor Vehicle
   • Driver Training
   • Drivers License
   • Road Safety
   • Vehicle Maintenance
   • DOT
   • Emergency Situations
   • Driver Education
   • Defensive Driving Techniques
   • Traffic Laws
   • Tractor Trailer
   • Road Test

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Own and manage a small business as a CPR and first aid instructor and consultant for diverse clients.
   • make sure they drive truck to dot standards.
   • Provide knowledge of the road and rules of the law.
   • Present classroom instructions and on the road practice, instruct students for exams.
   • Construct an AutoCAD program which offers college credit while still in high school.
   • Ensure events run smoothly with all details in place for safe and enjoyable events.

   More driving instructor duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, driving instructors' average salary in alaska is 55% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level driving instructors earn 58% less than senior-level driving instructors.
   • Certifications. A driving 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 driving instructor's salary.

   Average driving instructor salary

   $51,752yearly

   $24.88 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level driving instructor salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average driving instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$57,355	$28
   2	Arizona	$55,576	$27
   3	Indiana	$55,106	$26
   4	Georgia	$54,208	$26
   5	Illinois	$51,148	$25
   6	Washington	$50,935	$24
   7	Alabama	$50,153	$24
   8	Missouri	$49,399	$24
   9	Florida	$48,999	$24
   10	Mississippi	$48,439	$23
   11	Tennessee	$47,737	$23
   12	Nevada	$47,401	$23
   13	California	$46,479	$22
   14	Pennsylvania	$46,188	$22
   15	Kansas	$46,026	$22
   16	North Carolina	$45,915	$22
   17	Nebraska	$45,124	$22
   18	Arkansas	$44,915	$22
   19	Kentucky	$44,382	$21
   20	Colorado	$40,864	$20

   Average driving instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The University System of Maryland Foundation	$67,131	$32.27
   2	Stevens Transport	$63,224	$30.40
   3	C.R. England	$63,076	$30.32	5
   4	CRST International	$62,825	$30.20	2
   5	Job Corps	$61,597	$29.61	6
   6	Xator	$61,220	$29.43
   7	Buena Vista University	$57,516	$27.65
   8	DriversEd.com	$54,380	$26.14
   9	YRC Freight	$53,434	$25.69
   10	Kett Engineering	$53,078	$25.52
   11	Knight Transportation	$52,610	$25.29	4
   12	State Bar of Michigan	$51,201	$24.62
   13	TransForce	$50,829	$24.44
   14	Diesel Driving Academy	$50,810	$24.43	5
   15	Hirschbach	$50,536	$24.30
   16	160 Driving Academy	$50,094	$24.08	20
   17	Virginia's Community Colleges	$49,973	$24.03	301
   18	Pico de Gallo	$49,942	$24.01	72
   19	FedEx	$49,091	$23.60
   20	AWG Ambassador	$49,086	$23.60

4. Writing a driving instructor job description

   A good driving instructor 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 driving instructor job description:

   Driving instructor job description example

   Edinburgh, IN What you will be doing.
   
   This is an exempt fulltime position that will report to the academics manager. In this role, you will be responsible for monitoring and directing students in the driver's education program, in compliance with government and management directives.
   
   $45,988.80 Medical, Dental, and Vision 3 weeks paid vacation, 2 weeks paid sick time, 11 paid holidays 401(k) with company match Qualifications:
   Bachelor's degree and valid teaching certification with an endorsement in driver's education required. Previous driver's education experience preferred. Must be certified to teach driving skills in the state of Indiana. Must possess a valid in-state Driver's License and meet the Company insurability requirements. Essential Functions: Process and categorize students' driver's education applications. Prepare students for written examination through a series of lectures, worksheets, and discussions. Evaluate student's performance and determine their readiness to complete the final written and driving instruction. Maintain a safe and clean work area that models high standards for a work environment while provide positive, quality customer services to students, staff, and other center customers. Regular and predictable attendance is required.
   What is Job Corps?
   
   Job Corps is a federally-funded comprehensive program that provides essential academic and career skills training to eligible students designed to prepare them for success in every aspect of their lives. Atterbury Job Corps is located in Edinburgh, IN whereas IndyPendence is located in Indianapolis, IN. Both centers are managed by Management & Training Corporation (MTC), a privately held company that successfully operates Job Corps, Corrections, Medical and Economic/Social Development contracts.
   
   Visit our websites to learn more about the program and MTC:
   
   Program:
   Company:

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find driving instructors 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 driving instructor job on Zippia to find and attract quality driving instructor candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting driving 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.

   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 driving instructor

   Once you've decided on a perfect driving instructor 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.

   To prepare for the new driving instructor 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a driving instructor?