How to hire a language teacher

How to hire a language teacher, step by step

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

What does a language teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your language 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 language 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 language 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 language teacher that fits the bill.

   This list presents language teacher salaries for various positions.

   Type of Language Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Language Teacher	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and career and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.	$16-35
   Teacher/Tutor	A teacher/tutor is primarily in charge of facilitating discussions and other learning activities for students. Their duties typically revolve around developing lesson plans and teaching materials, assessing the progress of students through quizzes and examinations, assisting students in areas they find difficult, and helping them develop their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills... Show more	$12-33
   High School Teacher	High school teachers play an essential role in preparing students for college or life following graduation. They typically teach students from the ninth to 12th grades... Show more	$17-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • English Language
   • Student Learning
   • Mandarin
   • Learning Environment
   • ESL
   • Grammar
   • Professional Development
   • Classroom Environment
   • Language Curriculum
   • Foreign Language
   • Instructional Materials
   • Curriculum Development
   • Language Arts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve a DLPT score of``3"in listening and reading in Korean for the first time during this period.
   • Administer Romanian language proficiency tests for walk-in candidates using the FSI test format and the ILR evaluation scale.
   • Develop a customize course syllabus and outline for to improve student language motivation and integration into the local community.
   • Post DLPT, assist and prepare soldiers for their exam.
   • Coach IPP students to master expressive and receptive skills in ASL laboratory.
   • Act as a liaison between DOD language students and native- speaking instructors.

   More language teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your language teacher job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A language teacher salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a language teacher in Alabama may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level language teacher usually earns less than a senior-level language teacher. Additionally, a language teacher with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average language teacher salary

   $51,413yearly

   $24.72 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level language teacher salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average language teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$72,351	$35
   2	California	$71,539	$34
   3	New Jersey	$62,273	$30
   4	District of Columbia	$60,553	$29
   5	Massachusetts	$59,645	$29
   6	Delaware	$57,162	$27
   7	Pennsylvania	$55,072	$26
   8	Oregon	$54,994	$26
   9	Washington	$54,027	$26
   10	Connecticut	$53,916	$26
   11	Florida	$53,170	$26
   12	Michigan	$52,088	$25
   13	Virginia	$51,526	$25
   14	Ohio	$49,108	$24
   15	Illinois	$48,015	$23
   16	Utah	$47,864	$23
   17	Minnesota	$47,678	$23
   18	Texas	$44,700	$21
   19	Missouri	$44,006	$21
   20	Indiana	$43,847	$21

   Average language teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Gow School	$182,724	$87.85
   2	King Low Heywood Thomas	$86,032	$41.36
   3	Poly Prep Country Day School	$79,587	$38.26
   4	Ef International School of English	$78,249	$37.62
   5	York Prep School	$77,737	$37.37
   6	DC International School	$74,720	$35.92
   7	West Contra Costa Unified School District	$73,580	$35.38	69
   8	Princeton Public Schools	$72,624	$34.92	3
   9	Pasadena Unified School District	$72,586	$34.90	8
   10	Saint Ann's School	$72,174	$34.70
   11	Salisbury School	$70,843	$34.06
   12	Head-Royce School	$70,395	$33.84	8
   13	Alhambra Unified School District	$70,111	$33.71
   14	Chino Valley Unified School District	$69,291	$33.31
   15	Washington International School	$68,192	$32.78	4
   16	Rancho Alamitos High School	$68,019	$32.70
   17	Harvard-Westlake School	$67,556	$32.48	2
   18	Riverdale Country School	$67,479	$32.44	4
   19	Central Catholic High School	$67,070	$32.25
   20	Bellevue School District	$66,673	$32.05	13

4. Writing a language teacher job description

   A good language 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 language teacher job description:

   Language teacher job description example

   Department: Education
   Employment Status: Full-Time
   Program: Dena'ina Language Institute
   FLSA Status: Exempt
   Reports To: Dena'ina Language Instruction Coordinator
   Schedule: 40 Hours/52 Weeks
   Supervises: N/A
   Preference: TERO Ordinance 2017-01, P.L. 93-638
   
   Job Summary The Dena'ina Language Teacher Apprentice (DLTA)will create instructional content in both Dena'ina and English, develop personal teaching skills, teach other prospective Dena'ina language instructors, and increase personal proficiency in the Dena'ina language. This person will be teaching adults, children, and family units for approximately 5/8 of their day. This person will design, test, and refine instructional modules as well as engage in all training (as learner and leader) to support system-wide language instruction. The Dena'ina Language Teacher Apprentice will ensure that Dena'ina language acquisition, and second language acquisition instructional strategies, methods, and approaches are implemented with fidelity across all facets of their language instruction. Essential Functions Lead Dena'ina language teaching as a learner, teacher, and innovator Collaborate with the Dena'ina Language Institute team, the pre-K and K-12 teams to teach and align language work with Kenaitze Indian Tribe's mission and vision Collect, analyze and interpret student data to monitor success Ensure Dena'ina Cultural overlay on all language-learning curriculum Learn, implement, and model second Language Acquisition strategies, methods, techniques and approaches Facilitate and align Blended Learning approach, Dena'ina Language curriculum, and resources Model language and instructional best practice for staff and learners Implement Kahtnuht'ana Language Learning System with fidelity including instructor materials, rubrics, and processes to ensure program viability of Language Programs Engage in continuous improvement coaching cycles with Language Coach, Dena'ina Language Institute Director, and Education Director It is the intent of this job description to highlight the essential functions of the position; however, it is not an all-inclusive list. The incumbent may be called upon and required to follow or perform other duties and tasks requested by his/her supervisor, consistent with the purpose of the position, department and/or the Kenaitze Indian Tribe's objectives.
   Working Conditions Lifting Requirements Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Requirements Stand or Sit (Stationary position) Walk (Move, Traverse) Use hands/fingers to handle or feel (Operate, Activate, Use, Prepare, Inspect, Place, Detect, Position) Climb (stairs/ladders) or balance (Ascend/Descend, Work atop, Traverse) Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl (Position self (to), Move) Talk/hear (Communicate, Detect, Converse with, Discern, Convey, Express oneself, Exchange information) See (Detect, Determine, Perceive, Identify, Recognize, Judge, Observe, Inspect, Estimate, Assess) OSHA Categories Category II - Normal routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluid or tissue, but exposure or potential for exposure may occur Travel Local In-State Qualifications Education Bachelor's Degree in Education, or a combination of education and experience in Dena'ina cultural and language may be substituted for a degree Experience One (1) year of experience teaching Dena'ina cultural practices and traditions Dena'ina language and literacy Preferred Bilingual Coursework in Dena'ina language acquisition Knowledge and experience working with cultural diversities License/Certification Must have a valid Alaska State driver's license and must remain insurable under the Tribe's policy Must have Pediatric-Adult CPR & First Aid, or obtain within 90 days of hire Special Skills Must be able to successfully complete an internal writing proficiency exam Ability to motivate staff and students Excellent oral and written communication skills Creative, energetic approach to achieving goals Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, or obtain training within 90 days of hire Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively Conducts business in a service-oriented manner that is attentive, pleasant, respectful and kind when dealing with un'ina, visitors, co-workers and others
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find language 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 language teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level language 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 language teacher job on Zippia to find and attract quality language teacher candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit language teachers, 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 language teacher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the language teacher 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 language 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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