How to hire a guest teacher

How to hire a guest teacher, step by step

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

What does a guest teacher do?

Post a guest teacher job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your guest 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 a guest 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

   Hiring the perfect guest teacher 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.

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

   Type of Guest Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Guest Teacher		$9-24
   Teacher Internship	Teaching interns are individuals who assist teachers and educators in the classroom. The interns are instructed to fulfill the tasks set out and provided by the supervisors for them... Show more	$16-32
   Math And Science Teacher	Math and Science Teachers are responsible for imparting knowledge and developing a student's skills in mathematics and science. Their duties include creating lessons, producing learning materials, sourcing supplies, and grading examinations and quizzes... Show more	$17-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • K-12
   • Substitute Teaching
   • Instructional Materials
   • Mathematics
   • Professional Development
   • Administration Policies
   • Classroom Environment
   • Public Schools
   • Language Arts
   • Student Learning
   • Learning Process
   • Social Studies
   • Long-Term Assignments

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage substitute teaching responsibilities in elementary and secondary school including ESL and bilingual programs.
   • Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in various subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
   • Facilitate instruction for grades k-8.
   • Direct a 9th-12th grade technology integration PLC meeting for art.
   • Perform duties of the regular teacher in his/her absence in a k-12 school setting for OAISD.
   • Work in IEP team to ensure students' education are met in the least restrictive environment.

   More guest teacher duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, guest teachers' average salary in south carolina is 58% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level guest teachers earn 60% less than senior-level guest teachers.
   • Certifications. A guest teacher 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 guest teacher's salary.

   Average guest teacher salary

   $15.65hourly

   $32,547 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level guest teacher salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average guest teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$42,692	$21
   2	Oregon	$37,933	$18
   3	Arizona	$33,479	$16
   4	Michigan	$27,468	$13
   5	Colorado	$26,992	$13
   6	Illinois	$25,433	$12
   7	Florida	$24,552	$12
   8	Oklahoma	$22,808	$11
   9	South Carolina	$22,265	$11

   Average guest teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Leman Academy of Excellence, Inc.	$44,930	$21.60	22
   2	Santa Rosa City Schools	$44,499	$21.39
   3	Distinctive Schools	$42,406	$20.39	9
   4	North Monterey County Unified School District	$41,185	$19.80	2
   5	Salem-Keizer Public Schools	$36,923	$17.75	81
   6	Bullitt County Public Schools	$34,349	$16.51	22
   7	Catholic Charities Health and Human Services	$33,587	$16.15
   8	Perris Union High School District	$33,517	$16.11	2
   9	Kelly Services	$33,381	$16.05	832
   10	Falcon School District 49	$31,690	$15.24	20
   11	Worthington Schools	$31,402	$15.10	7
   12	Visalia Unified School District	$29,883	$14.37
   13	San Jacinto Unified School District	$29,568	$14.22	3
   14	Phoenix Union High School District	$27,647	$13.29	7
   15	Jeffrey C Still Middle School	$27,432	$13.19	9
   16	Grandville Public Schools	$27,315	$13.13	11
   17	Atlas Preparatory School	$26,130	$12.56
   18	Cajon Valley Union School District	$26,123	$12.56	7

4. Writing a guest teacher job description

   A guest 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 guest teacher job description:

   Guest teacher job description example

   + + Position Type:
   
   Substitute Teacher/ Substitute Teacher
   
   + Date Posted:
   
   6/30/2022
   
   + Location:
   
   Multiple Locations (no travel)
   
   + Date Available:
   
   08/18/2022
   
   + Closing Date:
   
   05/12/2023
   
   Description:Guest Teachers perform functions to instruct students on established curriculum ensuring each individual is provided with the knowledge, proficiencies and experiences necessary to become successful in an ever-changing world. We are seeking enthusiastic individuals who are willing to accept assignments on a regular basis. Work history will be monitored so we can keep an active and robust list.Essential Job Functions:1. Deliver lesson plans as instructed by the teacher and/or school administrator.2. Be actively engaged with students during your assignment and communicate in a positive way with all students, staff, and others.3. Complete daily, and regular reports required of the teacher, including attendance.4. Actively support a positive learning environment with structured classroom management routines.5. Maintain a high level of integrity and confidentiality as it relates to school, student, parent, or staff information. 6. Complete all duties of the teacher, including supervision assignments (e.g., bus duty, hall duty, study hall, and lunchroom/recess duty).7. Complete any additional work as directed by administration during free periods. 8. Ensure the safety and well being of all students within the assigned classroom and appropriately respond to all emergency situations.9. Ensure the protection of equipment, materials, and facilities as appropriate. 10. Direct the activities of a classroom assistant(s) as needed. 11. Participate in building events such as fire drills, evacuations, assemblies, and meetings as needed.Perform other related duties as assigned.Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:
   
   1. Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with colleagues.2. Ability to remain flexible and be willing to adapt to change at short notice.3. Ability to use initiative to solve problems when they arise and be willing to make decisions based on the best interest of students.4. Maintain a professional appearance and conduct personal behavior to serve as a positive example for students.5. Demonstrate expertise in oral and written communication.6. Demonstrate evidence of professional growth and apply new learning to help all students achieve.Education, Licensure, Qualifications:Illinois State Board of Education licensure requirements for a Substitute Teacher, including one of the following Illinois Professional Educator License (teaching license), Substitute Teaching License, Short-Term Substitute License.Experience teaching or working as a guest teacher, with a record of successfully impacting student achievement.Successful completion of a fingerprint based criminal background investigation.Written evidence of physical exam and negative tuberculosis test.Must be able to provide his/her own transportation.
   
   Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed and only applicants whose qualifications and experience meets the need of the position will be contacted. If selected to be added to the guest teacher list, qualified applicants will be contacted directly by Human Resources.
   
   Rate ofpay:$115.00/day
   
   Working Conditions:Regular Education or Special Education Self-Contained classrooms.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find guest 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 guest teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit guest teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit guest 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 guest teacher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the guest teacher position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new guest teacher. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a guest teacher?