How to hire a junior teacher

How to hire a junior teacher, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a junior teacher, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

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

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

   Type of Junior Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Teacher	Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades. Middle school teachers help students build on the fundamentals they learned in elementary school and prepare them for the more difficult curriculum they will face in high school.	$18-32
   Teacher-In-Training	A teacher-in-training is a teaching professional who offers technical teaching assistance to teachers in developing effective behavior management and instructional strategies to support student learning. The teacher must collaborate with principals while employing diverse techniques to increase the effectiveness of student learning... Show more	$11-26
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Instructional Materials
   • Professional Development
   • Role Model
   • Math
   • Educational Programs
   • Language Arts
   • Learning Environment
   • JR
   • Science Curriculum
   • Social Studies
   • Physical Education
   • Classroom Environment
   • Literature

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
   • Assist with interactive computer program to enhance math and economics curriculum utilizing technology competently and comfortably.
   • Display excellent technical skills in preparing several creative and educational PowerPoint presentations per week to facilitate student learning.
   • Tutor biology, pre-calculus, and calculus
   • Create a new physics and pre-calculus curriculum with an emphasis on higher-order thinking

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, junior teachers' average salary in south dakota is 58% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level junior teachers earn 43% less than senior-level junior teachers.
   • Certifications. A junior 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 junior teacher's salary.

   Average junior teacher salary

   $51,024yearly

   $24.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior teacher salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a junior teacher job description

   A job description for a junior teacher role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a junior teacher job description:

   Junior 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 junior 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 junior teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit junior 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.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your junior teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit junior 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 junior 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 junior teacher

   Once you've decided on a perfect junior 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 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new junior 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.)

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