How to hire a high school english teacher

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

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

What does a high school english teacher do?

Post a high school english teacher job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the high school english teacher you need to hire. Certain high school english teacher roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A high school english teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, high school english 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 high school english teacher salaries for various positions.

   Type of High School English Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   High School English 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.	$17-32
   Guest Teacher	A Guest Teacher is a part-time educator who facilitates discussions and activities among students, focusing on a particular subject. Like full-time teachers, their responsibilities include preparing lesson and coursework plans, organizing individual or group activities, grading the students' performances, and assisting them as necessary... Show more	$9-24
   Math Teacher	A math teacher is responsible for instilling analytical and statistical knowledge to the learners. The duties of a math teacher include the development of a student's problem-solving skills, practical application of formulas and logical reasoning, utilization of visual materials and other learning equipment for better comprehension, and evaluation of the students' learning progress by conducting series of tests and activities... Show more	$17-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Professional Development
   • Curriculum Development
   • Language
   • Student Learning
   • Language Arts
   • Learning Environment
   • English Language
   • Grammar
   • American Literature
   • Student Achievement
   • Student Performance
   • State Standards
   • Learning Process

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage FBLA, assist with meeting notes, financial records, and agendas for meetings, events, and fundraisers.
   • Share ideas with non-ESL certify teachers on strategies to teach ESL students successfully.
   • Perform all clerical duties as required for reports, forms, IEP s and state reports.
   • Participate in IEP (individualize education plan) planning sessions with parents, teachers, and administrators.
   • Determine the appropriate levels of language and math skills of individual students by administering achievement appropriate assessments and interpreting/evaluating results.
   • Create unique and engaging lesson plans and teaching materials using PowerPoint, videos, and other media.

   More high school english teacher duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, high school english teachers' average salary in south dakota is 51% less than in maryland.
   • Seniority. Entry-level high school english teachers earn 45% less than senior-level high school english teachers.
   • Certifications. A high school english 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 high school english teacher's salary.

   Average high school english teacher salary

   $50,369yearly

   $24.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level high school english teacher salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

   Average high school english teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$70,772	$34
   2	New Jersey	$67,346	$32
   3	Rhode Island	$67,064	$32
   4	California	$59,879	$29
   5	Illinois	$57,316	$28
   6	Michigan	$52,479	$25
   7	Georgia	$48,726	$23
   8	Florida	$47,689	$23
   9	South Carolina	$44,670	$21
   10	Texas	$44,606	$21
   11	Minnesota	$43,993	$21
   12	Colorado	$41,973	$20
   13	Missouri	$40,807	$20
   14	Arkansas	$40,343	$19
   15	Arizona	$40,147	$19
   16	Louisiana	$40,106	$19
   17	Oklahoma	$37,597	$18

   Average high school english teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Piedmont Unified School District	$63,615	$30.58	3
   2	Campbell Union High School District	$59,200	$28.46	19
   3	Savannah-Chatham County Public School System	$58,791	$28.26	16
   4	Salinas Union High School District	$58,119	$27.94
   5	Santa Rosa City Schools	$57,377	$27.59
   6	San José Unified School District	$56,294	$27.06
   7	Kellogg Elementary	$55,172	$26.52	6
   8	Springfield City Library	$54,997	$26.44	3
   9	YES Prep Public Schools	$54,768	$26.33	13
   10	George Mc Parland Elementary	$54,343	$26.13
   11	Mastery Charter Schools	$54,096	$26.01	17
   12	FCSD	$53,628	$25.78	18
   13	Leander ISD	$53,376	$25.66	37
   14	The Wheeler School	$53,218	$25.59
   15	Cornerstone Learning Community	$52,937	$25.45	5
   16	Santa Monica High School	$52,630	$25.30	1
   17	Distinctive Schools	$52,487	$25.23	7
   18	Hyde Leadership Charter School (Elementary & Middle School)	$52,375	$25.18	4
   19	Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District	$51,825	$24.92	18
   20	North Monterey County Unified School District	$51,822	$24.91	1

4. Writing a high school english teacher job description

   A good high school english 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 english teacher job description:

   High school english teacher job description example

   About Mastery:
   
   We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child - academically and emotionally - matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.
   
   Mastery Charter Schools is a nonprofit network of more than 24 schools serving over 14,000 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.
   
   We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our buildings can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.
   
   Mastery's Equity Vision:
   
   We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission.
   
   We strive to be an anti-racist school district that eliminates the inequities in academic achievement that limit our students' choices; that cultivates classrooms where every student is affirmed, supported, and held to high expectations; and that nurtures a diverse organization where students, staff, and families are valued, respected, and included.
   
   This role is eligible for up to $5,000 for relocation expenses!
   
   The Opportunity:
   
   In joining Mastery as an English Teacher you will work with your students to foster their development in critical thinking, questioning, critiquing, and understanding the written word. It is well-documented that the opportunity gap in the United States is a literacy gap and by taking on the mantle of an English Teacher you will work daily to set our students up for long-term success and ensure they get a world-class education.
   
   Starting in 7th Grade and continuing through 12th Grade our students engage in thematic units while learning to comprehend and analyze complex grade-level texts as required by the Common Core State Standards. Students read, analyze, and write about nonfiction, literature, and poetic texts. Your passion for literature and language arts will spur your students to discover their own voices, better understand their world, and interpret and process the feelings and experiences they live.
   
   At Mastery we value Continuous Improvement and want you to learn and grow in your craft. We utilize a team of Assistant Principals, central-office coaches, and school-based content teams to provide every teacher coaching and feedback. We have professional development or peer collaboration time built into our calendar every Wednesday (when students are dismissed early). You will receive more than 250 hours of professional development annually and have a professional development allowance to use to further your growth.
   
   Duties and Responsibilities:Drive student achievement and set high expectations for all students Commit to professional growth, self-reflection, a receptiveness to feedback, and a desire to continuously improve Implement rigorous and appropriate lesson plans, assignments, and assessments in cooperation with Mastery school-based leadership and curricular resources developed by Mastery's central office Academic TeamWork closely with school leaders to analyze student assessment data to measure progress and use data to inform instruction Collaborate in grade level teams to discuss student work, share best practices, plan events for joy and humor, and ensure student mastery of standards Engage families in their children's education by building relationships and maintaining regular communication Demonstrate genuine interest, belief, and care for students' personal and academic success Respond positively and effectively to challenges with a solutions-oriented resiliency
   Education, Experience, and Skills:Bachelor's degree required with a record of personal, professional, and/or academic achievement Teacher certification - completed or in process Demonstrated expertise in subject area Outstanding instructional skills driven by data and delivered through rigorous and engaging strategies
   Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.
   
   UPDATE AS OF MAY 2022 - Please review Mastery's Health and Safety Plans here to learn about our approach to vaccination and testing as well as our response to COVID-19 for the 2021-22 school year. For ongoing positions, Mastery roles are designated as in-person, with regular on-site responsibilities, unless otherwise noted. As such, Employees must be able to support Mastery Schools' academic plan and business strategies on-site - at a Mastery campus - as required.
   
   Exceptions to this requirement will be considered on an individualized basis.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find high school english teachers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any high school english teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level high school english teachers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your high school english teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit high school english 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

   To successfully recruit high school english teachers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 english teacher

   Once you've selected the best high school english teacher candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new high school english 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a high school english teacher?