Post job

How to hire a house parent

House parent hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring house parents in the United States:

  • There are a total of 3,616 house parents in the US, and there are currently 25,144 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a house parent is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per house parent on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Atlanta, GA, has the highest demand for house parents, with 2 job openings.

How to hire a house parent, step by step

To hire a house parent, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a house parent:

Here's a step-by-step house parent hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a house parent job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new house parent
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
jobs
Post a house parent job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The house parent 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a house parent 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 house parent that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of house parents and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of House ParentDescriptionHourly rate
    House Parent$11-23
    Direct Support StaffThe direct support staff is a professional who takes responsibility for the overall care of people with developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals work directly with developmental illness patients in long-term health care facilities... Show more$8-25
    Direct Support ProfessionalDirect support professionals are responsible for taking care of patients with physical or mental limitations. They do a variety of tasks for their patients, such as doing household chores, running errands for them, cooking for them, feeding them, bathing and dressing them, and helping them with their medication, among others... Show more$8-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Foster Care
    • Direct Care
    • CPR
    • Child Care
    • Foster Children
    • Behavioral Issues
    • Mental Health
    • House Maintenance
    • Behavior Management
    • Independent Living
    • at-Risk Youth
    • Medical Care
    • Meal Preparation
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead support groups with an emphasis on recovery and strength base techniques, DBT, CBT, self-care and coping skills.
    • Attend multiple trainings on child development, wellness action plans, as well as CPR certification.
    • Demonstrate proficiency in administering medications, assisting with ADL's.
    • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
    • Create new forms to help house moms stay better organize and help with household and DHS responsibilities.
    • Prepare meals, pick up groceries when need, administer and document all medications.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, house parents' average salary in ohio is 38% less than in maine.
    • Seniority. Entry-level house parents 51% less than senior-level house parents.
    • Certifications. A house parent 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 house parent's salary.

    Average house parent salary

    $16.73hourly

    $34,797 yearly

    Entry-level house parent salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025
  4. Writing a house parent job description

    A house parent 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 house parent job description:

    House parent job description example

    Do you want to help improve the lives of vulnerable youth in our community?

    Do you want to join a team of people who are hard-working and want to help others?

    Do you want to build a career, while making a difference in the world?

    If this sounds like you, let's talk! We're hiring a Live-In House Parent at the Qualifying House in Minden, NV, an affiliate of Rite of Passage. Our employees are dedicated and passionate individuals that are committed to inspiring positive change in the lives of youth. Joining our team is more than just a job, it's an opportunity to create a meaningful career with a company driven by its powerful mission to make a difference.

    Rite of Passage is a leading national provider of programs and opportunities for troubled and at-risk youth from social services, welfare agencies and juvenile courts. With an emphasis on evidence-based practices and positive skill development, combined with our supportive and therapeutic approach, our organization is respected by industry experts as a highly effective solution for our youth. Since 1984, over 25,000 youths have entered and completed our programs. ROP has built its reputation on running life-changing educational treatment programs that positively contribute to the community.

    What you'll do:

    As a Live-In House Parent, you'll provide safety and around-the-clock supervision for the youth in our program and provide an atmosphere that is supportive of the needs of the students. You'll monitor and document student behaviors and activities, participate and assist with educational, social, athletic, and recreational activities, and work in collaboration with other professional staff to establish and/or meet the goals of each student's treatment plan.

    To be considered, you should:

    • Be empathetic, patient, and treat others with respect.
    • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
    • Two years of prior professional cooking experience
    • Knowledge of Basic budgetary management
    • Be at least 21 years of age.
    • Have a desire to work with troubled teens.
    • Be able to pass a criminal background check, drug screen, physical, and TB test.


    The Perks:

    • A schedule that allows for more consecutive days off.
    • Eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance after 90 days of employment.
    • Choice of supplemental benefits, including Short Term Disability and Life Insurance.
    • Eligible for 100% 403b match of up to 6% after 1 year of employment.
    • Paid Time Off that can be used as soon as it accrues.
    • Free Meals on shift.
    • Employee incentives including On-The-Spot Bonuses, Rams Bucks, and Longevity Awards.
    • Growth opportunities nationwide - we have 40 programs in 16 states!
    • Tuition Assistance.
    • Free rent


    #ROPW

    Apply today and help us make a difference!

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

    The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find house parents 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 house parent job on Zippia to find and recruit house parent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit house parents, 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 house parent

    Once you've found the house parent 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 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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

How much does it cost to hire a house parent?

There are different types of costs for hiring house parents. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new house parent employee.

You can expect to pay around $34,797 per year for a house parent, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for house parents in the US typically range between $11 and $23 an hour.

Find better house parents in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring house parents FAQs

Search for house parent jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse personal care and attendants jobs