How to hire a kindergarten teacher assistant

How to hire a kindergarten teacher assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step kindergarten teacher assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a kindergarten teacher assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new kindergarten teacher assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your kindergarten teacher assistant 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 kindergarten teacher assistant 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

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

   Type of Kindergarten Teacher Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Kindergarten Teacher Assistant	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$9-20
   Teacher	Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world... Show more	$15-33
   ESL Teacher	An ESL teacher specializes in teaching the English language to non-native speakers of all ages, usually in a virtual setting. Their responsibilities revolve around devising lesson plans, organizing learning materials, evaluating progress, and coming up with strategies to make learners feel comfortable... Show more	$19-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Mathematics
   • Classroom Management
   • Language Arts
   • Classroom Environment
   • Instructional Materials
   • Pre-Kindergarten
   • Pre-K
   • Child Development
   • Behavior Management
   • IEP
   • Parent-Teacher Conferences
   • Public Schools
   • Social Development
   • Learning Environment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
   • Serve as temporary pre-k teacher for maternity leave.
   • Contribute to IEP meetings and updating students IEP 's
   • Teach phonics and beginning reading and math to ESL students.
   • Lead class in absence of Pre-K teacher and maintain attendance record.
   • Plan activities that would stimulate growth in language, social and motor skills.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, kindergarten teacher assistants' average salary in tennessee is 41% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level kindergarten teacher assistants earn 56% less than senior-level kindergarten teacher assistants.
   • Certifications. A kindergarten teacher assistant 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 kindergarten teacher assistant's salary.

   Average kindergarten teacher assistant salary

   $13.90hourly

   $28,914 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level kindergarten teacher assistant salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a kindergarten teacher assistant job description

   A kindergarten teacher assistant 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a kindergarten teacher assistant job description:

   Kindergarten teacher assistant job description example

   *Kindergarten Teaching Assistant*
   
   Carrollwood Day School has an immediate opening for an emerging educator to join our Lower School/Early Childhood team as a Kindergarten Teaching Assistant. The ideal candidate enjoys working with children, understands how they learn, and is dedicated to creating a nurturing learning atmosphere for every student. The Teaching Assistant position is intended to be an opportunity for an individual new to the teaching profession to gain experience with CDS, students, curriculum and teaching environment to prepare for a lead teaching role in the future.
   
   Carrollwood Day School is a private independent International Baccalaureate World School offering a college preparatory curriculum for students from age two through 12th grade with an emphasis on character education. Our vision is to build a community prepared and inspired to better the world. Our mission is to cultivate principled entrepreneurial thinkers for a global society by enriching the mind, strengthening the character, and inspiring the passions of our community.
   
   *Essential Functions and Responsibilities: *
   * Assist in implementing lesson plans based on CDS philosophy and curriculum and the specific needs of each child
   
   * Collaborate with lead teachers to monitor the development of each child
   
   * Work with children, individually and in groups, to promote their learning and development
   
   * When needed, communicate with parents to keep them informed about their child's development and any changes to the regular day-to-day schedule
   
   * Reinforce lessons presented by teachers by reviewing materials with students, pre-teaching and re-teaching as needed
   
   * Help teachers with administrative work such as tracking attendance
   
   * Assist in preparing lessons by getting materials ready or setting up equipment
   
   * Supervise students in a variety of settings to ensure safety and well-being
   
   * Create an effective learning environment through functional and attractive displays, bulletin boards, and activity/learning centers
   
   * Maintain professional competence by attending staff development programs, curriculum development meetings, and other professional trainings and activities
   
   * Participate in the life of the school through various student and parent activities, including Parent-Teacher Organization, student clubs and after-school activities
   
   * Be a team player; cheerfully participate in and/or assist with other duties and routines regularly part of a school environment
   
   * Meet regular and timely attendance requirements, including occasional evening and other required events
   
   * Adhere to School policies as described in the Employee Handbook and other materials
   
   *Qualifications, Skills, and Attributes: *
   * Bachelor's degree, preferably in Education
   
   * Must demonstrate a nurturing teaching style
   
   * Possess an understanding of the academic, social, and emotional development of young children
   
   * Strong understanding and utilization of appropriate customer service skills within an independent school environment
   
   * A high degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity, both in and outside of the classroom
   
   * Ability, willingness, and judgment to interact and communicate effectively and professionally with all constituents in a school environment
   
   * Enthusiasm and commitment to the vision, mission, and philosophy of the School
   
   CDS offers a competitive salary and comprehensive employee benefits package, generous paid time off, immediate 5% 401K match, and tuition remission.
   
   Daily rate is calculated by the number of required work days in a school year. Total salary for the full school year is $30K, actual salary will be determined by the number of remaining required days upon date of hire, and will be paid out in monthly installments.
   
   Job Type: Full-time
   
   Pay: $163.00 per day
   
   Benefits:
   * 401(k)
   * 401(k) matching
   * Dental insurance
   * Employee assistance program
   * Employee discount
   * Flexible spending account
   * Health insurance
   * Health savings account
   * Life insurance
   * Paid time off
   * Parental leave
   * Professional development assistance
   * Retirement plan
   * Tuition reimbursement
   * Vision insurance
   Schedule:
   * 8 hour shift
   
   Education:
   * Associate (Required)
   
   Experience:
   * childcare: 1 year (Required)
   
   License/Certification:
   * Driver's License (Required)
   
   Work Location: One location

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find kindergarten teacher assistants 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 kindergarten teacher assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit kindergarten teacher assistant 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 kindergarten teacher assistants, 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.

   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 kindergarten teacher assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the kindergarten teacher assistant 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new kindergarten teacher assistant. 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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