How to hire an esl teacher

How to hire an esl teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step esl teacher hiring guide:

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

What does an esl teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your esl teacher job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an esl teacher for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

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

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

   Type of ESL Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   ESL Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$19-32
   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
   Substitute School Teacher	A substitute teacher is liable for providing learning instruction and managing classroom settings in the absence of the regular teacher. They are responsible for checking student attendance, explaining homework, and maintaining classroom cleanliness... Show more	$11-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kids
   • Whiteboards
   • Classroom Management
   • Curriculum Development
   • English Language
   • Grammar
   • Student Learning
   • Classroom Environment
   • Language Arts
   • Instructional Materials
   • Learning Styles
   • Language
   • Language Acquisition
   • Public Schools

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Design syllabus and conduct various group activities to achieve basic conversational knowledge.
   • Focuse instruction on grammar and authentic conversation, using many interactive techniques to achieve progress.
   • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
   • Instruct all levels of elementary and kindergarten French entirely in the target language.
   • Develop and execute diverse individualize lesson plans that addressed every child's language proficiency, learning ability, and learning style.
   • Plan, prepare and hold IEP meetings.

   More esl teacher duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $52,701yearly

   $25.34 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level esl teacher salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

   Average esl teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$66,910	$32
   2	New York	$65,490	$31
   3	California	$64,769	$31
   4	District of Columbia	$64,352	$31
   5	Washington	$64,115	$31
   6	New Jersey	$61,347	$29
   7	Pennsylvania	$54,838	$26
   8	Nebraska	$54,168	$26
   9	Minnesota	$50,883	$24
   10	Michigan	$49,962	$24
   11	New Mexico	$49,710	$24
   12	Illinois	$49,167	$24
   13	Texas	$48,217	$23
   14	Ohio	$47,919	$23
   15	Wisconsin	$43,841	$21
   16	North Carolina	$42,867	$21
   17	Tennessee	$41,505	$20
   18	Kansas	$41,378	$20
   19	Louisiana	$40,674	$20
   20	Indiana	$37,227	$18

   Average esl teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pace University	$58,984	$28.36
   2	DC International School	$58,919	$28.33
   3	Princeton Public Schools	$58,675	$28.21	2
   4	Robbinsdale Area Schools	$57,793	$27.79	40
   5	Person High School	$57,351	$27.57	6
   6	Boston Public Schools	$57,329	$27.56	35
   7	Guilford County Schools	$57,063	$27.43	15
   8	Montgomery County Public Schools	$56,713	$27.27	27
   9	Connections Academy	$56,665	$27.24	139
   10	Prince George's County Memorial Library System	$56,576	$27.20	3
   11	SUNY Orange	$56,363	$27.10	2
   12	Phoenix Union High School District	$56,074	$26.96	17
   13	Fayette County Public Schools	$55,827	$26.84	17
   14	Fairfax County Public Schools	$55,768	$26.81
   15	Chicago Public Schools	$55,279	$26.58	37
   16	Irving Isd	$55,230	$26.55	17
   17	Salinas Union High School District	$54,714	$26.30
   18	Thomasville City Schools	$54,610	$26.25
   19	Garland Independent School District	$54,573	$26.24	63
   20	Jefferson Elementary School District	$54,394	$26.15	2

4. Writing an esl teacher job description

   An esl 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an esl teacher job description:

   Esl teacher job description example

   At PLA, we share an unwavering belief and passion for educating and empowering scholars from under-served communities driven by our Core Values: children first, respect, determination, continuous improvement, and gratitude. Our approach to leading successful schools builds on over 20 years of experience running educational programs for children, the latest scientific research, and the best practices throughout the nation.

   To create this kind of vibrant learning community, we hire only the best of the best educators & industry leaders and invest heavily in our faculty through ongoing professional development and support. We value people like you, people with a dedication to excellence and a passion for helping all our scholars develop the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to succeed while fueling their aspirations for the future.

   PLA is an equal opportunity employer and participates in E-Verify in all states that require it.

   Please read carefully.

   Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer. PLA does not discriminate in employment on account of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service.

   By completing this application you understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for PLA to hire me. If hired, I understand that either PLA or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of PLA has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary.

   You attest by applying to this position that you have given PLA true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize PLA to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.

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5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit esl 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.

   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 esl teacher

   Once you've decided on a perfect esl 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 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 esl 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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How much does it cost to hire an esl teacher?