How to hire a first grade teacher

How to hire a first grade teacher, step by step

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

What does a first grade teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The first grade teacher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

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

   This list presents first grade teacher salaries for various positions.

   Type of First Grade Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   First Grade Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$17-31
   Language Arts Teacher	A language arts teacher is responsible for teaching the English language to the students, improving their written and oral English communication by sharing the best practices, conducting engaging lesson plans, assigning group activities, and providing comprehensive educational materials. Language arts teachers strictly adhere to the learning curriculum, as well as monitoring the students' progress through individual evaluation, identifying their areas of improvement, and adjust learning strategies to address the difficulties... Show more	$19-31
   ESL Teacher	An ESL teacher specializes in teaching the English language to non-native speakers of all ages, usually in a virtual setting. Their responsibilities revolve around devising lesson plans, organizing learning materials, evaluating progress, and coming up with strategies to make learners feel comfortable... Show more	$19-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Math
   • Social Studies
   • Professional Development
   • Classroom Environment
   • Language Arts
   • Kindergarten
   • Grade Curriculum
   • Student Learning
   • Literacy Program
   • Instructional Materials
   • Learning Process
   • State Standards
   • Learning Styles

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used technology such as scanning documents, creating hyperlinks and PowerPoint to document student progress for student lead conferences.
   • Prepare and plan literacy and math centers daily to encourage student achievement and socialization skills.
   • Develop standards-based curricula including a balance literacy program, math and writers' workshops and after school intervention program.
   • Implement the PBIS social emotional development program.
   • Employ PBIS to reenforce positive behavior among students.
   • Focuse on ESL students using methodical scaffolding, with an emphasis on citizenship and literacy.

   More first grade teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your first grade teacher job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A first grade teacher can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, first grade teachers' average salary in maine is 48% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level first grade teachers 43% less than senior-level first grade teachers.
   • Certifications. A first grade teacher with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a first grade teacher's salary.

   Average first grade teacher salary

   $49,757yearly

   $23.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level first grade teacher salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average first grade teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$64,464	$31
   2	California	$62,799	$30
   3	New Jersey	$60,343	$29
   4	Maryland	$57,786	$28
   5	Washington	$56,354	$27
   6	Massachusetts	$53,040	$26
   7	New Mexico	$52,846	$25
   8	Virginia	$51,835	$25
   9	Florida	$51,446	$25
   10	Illinois	$49,456	$24
   11	Texas	$46,918	$23
   12	Michigan	$46,299	$22
   13	Utah	$45,945	$22
   14	North Carolina	$44,177	$21
   15	Arizona	$43,270	$21
   16	Nevada	$43,091	$21
   17	Louisiana	$42,846	$21
   18	Colorado	$42,360	$20
   19	Georgia	$41,360	$20
   20	Wisconsin	$40,172	$19

   Average first grade teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Shady Side Academy	$58,692	$28.22	9
   2	NORTH DAVIS PREPARATORY ACADEMY	$55,846	$26.85
   3	Houston ISD Foundation	$55,760	$26.81	19
   4	Weber School District	$55,597	$26.73
   5	Alexandria City Public Schools	$54,695	$26.30
   6	The Park School - Brookline	$53,771	$25.85	3
   7	Montgomery County Public Schools	$53,697	$25.82	19
   8	The Bronx Charter School for Children	$53,092	$25.52	2
   9	Orange County High School	$52,597	$25.29	15
   10	Roaring Fork School District	$52,196	$25.09	5
   11	Legacy Traditional Schools	$51,441	$24.73	27
   12	Canyon Independent School District	$51,085	$24.56	4
   13	Island Pacific Academy	$50,661	$24.36
   14	Central Park School for Children	$50,360	$24.21
   15	Winston Salem Forsyth County	$50,203	$24.14
   16	The Magellan International School	$49,065	$23.59
   17	Tyler Isd	$48,633	$23.38
   18	Denver Public Schools	$47,579	$22.87	67
   19	Manhattan Country School	$47,439	$22.81
   20	Morning Star	$47,114	$22.65

4. Writing a first grade teacher job description

   A good first grade 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 first grade teacher job description:

   First grade teacher job description example

   Our Teachers bring warmth, patience, and understanding to the classroom every day, encouraging children to learn and grow. They inspire children to be lifelong learners using our nationally recognized curriculum that promotes social, physical, verbal, and cognitive development. Our Teachers are committed to making their center successful and know that creating meaningful relationships with children, families, and their team play a crucial role in that success.
   As a member of our teaching staff, you will:
   
   Create a safe, nurturing environment where children can play and learn Partner with parents with a shared desire to provide the best care and education for their children Support your center's success by partnering with center staff and leadership to achieve goals around enrollment, accreditation, and engagement Cultivate positive relationships with families, teachers, state licensing authorities, community contacts and corporate partners Implement KCE's curriculum in a way that is consistent with the unique needs of each child
   The benefits our career professionals enjoy:
   
   Medical, dental and vision Childcare benefit Paid time off Education assistance and reimbursement Medical expense reimbursement/ Life insurance/Disability benefits/ Health and wellness programs 401(k) savings and investment plan with employer match Qualifications
   
   Desired Skills and Experience:
   
   CPR and First Aid Certification or willingness to obtain Active Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential (or willing to obtain) Completed 12 core ECE Units Infant/toddler OR BA Degree in Child Development Must be physically able to use a computer with basic proficiency, lift a minimum of 40 pounds, and work indoors or outdoors Ability to assume postures in low levels to allow physical and visual contact with children, see and hear well enough to keep children safe, and engage in physical activity with children Read, write, understand, and speak English to communicate with children and their parents in English All center staff applicants must meet state specific guidelines for the role Our highest priority has always been to keep our employees, children, families, and communities as safe and healthy as possible. Starting October 18, 2021, we began requiring COVID vaccinations or weekly COVID testing for all unvaccinated employees. We are also subject to state law, local ordinances, and Health Department requirements for child care workers or school staff.
   
   KinderCare Education is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right first grade 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 first grade teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit first grade 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.

   To find first grade teacher candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit first grade 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 first grade teacher

   Once you've decided on a perfect first grade 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new first grade 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 a first grade teacher?