How to hire a high school biology teacher

How to hire a high school biology teacher, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your high school biology 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 high school biology 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a high school biology teacher 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 high school biology teacher that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of high school biology teacher salaries for various roles:

   Type of High School Biology Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   High School Biology Teacher	High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.	$18-33
   Science Instructor	A Science Instructor guides the student in understanding important concepts in science, which may include problem-solving and gathering evidence in supporting concepts or ideas. Their responsibilities include presenting science demonstrations, checking assignments, grading tests, and writing lesson plans... Show more	$14-37
   Peer Teacher	A peer teacher is a student teaching another student, typically at college or university level. It is a concept that can be traced back to ancient Greece as used by philosophers such as Aristotle... Show more	$17-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Professional Development
   • Classroom Management
   • English Language
   • Chemistry
   • Public Schools
   • IEP
   • Student Learning
   • Instructional Materials
   • Student Performance
   • Instructional Techniques
   • Administrative Regulations
   • Academic Performance
   • Anatomy
   • Physiology

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a caseload of students and conduct IEP meetings.
   • Create clear and simple PowerPoint presentations.
   • Use computer technology such as PowerPoint and a projector to present lessons.
   • Develop and implement academic projects to prepare students for regional geography competition (which they win twice).
   • Develop computer-based curriculum, base on state requirements, and incorporate use of graphing calculators.
   • Coach UIL high school science and 6th grade soccer team.

   More high school biology teacher duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, high school biology teachers' average salary in oklahoma is 53% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level high school biology teachers 44% less than senior-level high school biology teachers.
   • Certifications. A high school biology 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 high school biology teacher's salary.

   Average high school biology teacher salary

   $52,657yearly

   $25.32 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level high school biology teacher salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average high school biology teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$75,341	$36
   2	Maryland	$71,624	$34
   3	District of Columbia	$64,957	$31
   4	New Jersey	$63,709	$31
   5	Illinois	$61,951	$30
   6	Georgia	$59,209	$28
   7	Ohio	$58,676	$28
   8	Michigan	$54,940	$26
   9	California	$52,752	$25
   10	Florida	$51,780	$25
   11	Texas	$46,072	$22
   12	Colorado	$42,948	$21
   13	Arizona	$41,439	$20
   14	Oklahoma	$35,316	$17

   Average high school biology teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Baltimore City Public Schools	$76,560	$36.81	20
   2	Lycée Français de Chicago	$65,264	$31.38
   3	Savannah-Chatham County Public School System	$64,369	$30.95	26
   4	Fontana Unified School District	$63,801	$30.67	2
   5	Edmond Public Schools	$62,941	$30.26	16
   6	Sacramento City Unified School District	$60,831	$29.25	28
   7	Campbell Union High School District	$60,574	$29.12	34
   8	Piedmont Unified School District	$60,332	$29.01	3
   9	Bright Star Schools	$59,436	$28.57	4
   10	Mercer County Community College	$57,677	$27.73	4
   11	Summit Public Schools	$56,825	$27.32	17
   12	Linden Public Schools	$55,150	$26.51	17
   13	Montebello Unified School Dst	$55,148	$26.51	3
   14	KIPP Northern California Public Schools	$54,431	$26.17	85
   15	Irvington Public Schools	$53,492	$25.72	17
   16	Distinctive Schools	$52,800	$25.38	18
   17	Connections Academy	$52,661	$25.32	183
   18	School Board of Highlands County	$51,049	$24.54	7
   19	Specialized Education Services Inc	$50,905	$24.47
   20	Fort Bend Christian Academy	$50,684	$24.37	2

4. Writing a high school biology teacher job description

   A good high school biology 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 high school biology teacher job description:

   High school biology teacher job description example

   We are a thriving nonprofit network of 17 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical partner in making their vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose-college, career, and beyond-so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.
   
   Our student community consists of over 6,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, Redwood City, and Stockton. Our student community demographics are: 94% identify as students of color, 79% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 23% are English language learners, and 10% receive special education services. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students' diversity.
   
   Our schools are looking for talented and committed Biology Teachers to play a key role in the establishment of curriculum and culture as they develop a high quality education program from the stages of vision to execution.
   
   Our students deserve continuously strong teaching from the time they enter kindergarten until they graduate from college or begin a career. As such, our Biology Teachers will work closely with each school's leadership team to ensure our students learn, grow, and achieve transformative life outcomes. EachBiology Teacher will be responsible for ensuring that our students have the opportunity to learn in an environment of joyful, excellent, and equitable teaching.
   
   Above all else, the most effective Biology Teacher will find joy and purpose in teaching children the habits necessary to be successful in school, and they will relish the opportunity to cultivate our students with a love for learning. They must also be committed to KIPP Public Schools Northern California's mission, while possessing the beliefs, character traits, and skills necessary to ensure student growth and achievement.
   
   Biology Teachers are expected to plan, organize and implement an appropriate instructional program in a TK-12 learning environment, both in an in-person classroom setting and virtually, that guides and encourages students to develop and fulfill their academic and socio-emotional potential. Work is performed under the supervision of the principal or direct manager.
   Ideal KIPP Teacher Qualities: Model KIPP values Be committed to being an anti-racist educator Believe all students can achieve at the highest academic levels Possess strong content area knowledge and skills building relationships with students, families, and communities Teach in our extended day and year schedule Contribute to a relentless and dedicated team of outstanding professionals Communicate well with students, families, and colleagues Have proficient knowledge of Google Suite applications (Google Classroom, Hangout, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) Have the ability to learn and utilize instructional technology to support in-class and distance learning (i.e. Zoom, Nearpod) Hold a B.A/B.S degree from a regionally accredited institution Hold a valid teaching credential, be in the process of securing a credential, or be willing to commit to earning a credential while teaching KIPP. Preferred Qualifications Experience as an educator teaching students with similar demographics to our KIPP NorCal student community Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese or Mandarin speaking proficiency Health & Safety Per California state requirements for public schools, all staff must be vaccinated (COVID-19 vaccination) or submit to regular and frequent testing. Our schools are engaged in on campus (in-person) learning, full time, 5 days a week. Please click here to read more about our health & safety measures at our schools. Compensation We are dedicated to you and your family's well-being! KIPP offers a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and transportation benefits. Salary Scale Questions? Email us at [email protected]

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right high school biology teacher 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 high school biology teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit high school biology 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

   Your first interview with high school biology teacher candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 high school biology teacher

   Once you've found the high school biology teacher candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 high school biology teacher. 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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