How to hire a lead instructor

How to hire a lead instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead instructor hiring guide:

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

What does a lead instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the lead instructor you need to hire. Certain lead instructor 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

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

   This list presents lead instructor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Lead Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Instructor		$15-37
   Adjunct Professor	Adjunct professors are instructors who are employed on a contractual basis, commonly in part-time positions. They teach courses in the same manner as full-time professors do, but they are free from some of the duties of those fully employed university instructors or in tenure-track positions... Show more	$21-105
   Instructor, Adjunct Faculty	An adjunct faculty member works in a state university or college. They typically work on a part-time or contractual basis... Show more	$15-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Curriculum Development
   • Professional Development
   • Mathematics
   • CPR
   • Course Content
   • Training Programs
   • Student Learning
   • Course Materials
   • Role Model
   • Organic Chemistry
   • Academic Support
   • Training Sessions
   • Anatomy

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Receive laudatory comments from TRADOC accreditation team review for all courses manage.
   • Design, create and manage Moodle LMS for surface data acquisition service training.
   • Manage class rosters, paperwork, and BLS certification cards for all participants and classes.
   • Manage phone, accounting, inventory, customer service, payroll, staff schedules, marketing, hiring and training.
   • Manage the ESL program and develop curriculum
   • Manage IEP findings conduct classroom observations for techniques and developmental progression.

   More lead instructor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead instructor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A lead instructor 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 lead instructor in Washington may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level lead instructor usually earns less than a senior-level lead instructor. Additionally, a lead instructor 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 lead instructor salary

   $50,221yearly

   $24.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lead instructor salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average lead instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$62,904	$30
   2	Virginia	$60,282	$29
   3	District of Columbia	$55,618	$27
   4	Connecticut	$53,766	$26
   5	Massachusetts	$52,782	$25
   6	California	$44,956	$22
   7	Missouri	$44,483	$21
   8	Ohio	$44,166	$21
   9	Texas	$43,590	$21
   10	Arizona	$42,405	$20
   11	Florida	$39,858	$19
   12	Indiana	$39,604	$19
   13	North Carolina	$39,553	$19
   14	Illinois	$35,945	$17
   15	Washington	$34,745	$17
   16	Colorado	$33,111	$16

   Average lead instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kern Community College District	$125,051	$60.12	30
   2	Saint Xavier University	$110,464	$53.11	14
   3	New York University	$101,382	$48.74	27
   4	Flatiron School	$84,316	$40.54
   5	Express Energy Services	$71,068	$34.17
   6	Sharp HealthCare	$66,272	$31.86
   7	Deloitte	$66,082	$31.77
   8	San Francisco University High School	$61,974	$29.80	39
   9	The University of Kansas Health System	$61,198	$29.42	2
   10	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College	$60,627	$29.15	110
   11	Goldbelt Falcon	$56,861	$27.34
   12	Syracuse University	$56,121	$26.98	16
   13	Pacific Architects and Engineers	$55,745	$26.80
   14	Monroe Community College	$54,198	$26.06	15
   15	Education Affiliates	$53,403	$25.67
   16	Family Wellness L L C	$52,468	$25.23	4
   17	Distinctive Schools	$52,003	$25.00	4
   18	Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	$50,325	$24.19	14
   19	Idaho State University	$49,926	$24.00	6
   20	General Dynamics	$49,798	$23.94	23

4. Writing a lead instructor job description

   A job description for a lead instructor 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 lead instructor job description:

   Lead instructor job description example

   Milton Hershey School (MHS) is a tuition free, home, and private school for over 2,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students. Founded in 1909 by Milton and Catherine Hershey, the lives of more than 11,000 students have been positively transformed through MHS's high-quality career-focused education, nurturing home life, and extensive extra-curricular opportunities. Some students do return home over breaks and during the summer months. Many choose to stay at MHS. For these students, we offer the Year-Round Experiences (YRE) program. It operates when school is not in session. Also, students are required to return to MHS two weeks before classes begin in August. During this time, they prepare for the new school year. They also participate in YRE activities and begin sports practices.
   
   MHS is seeking an energetic YRE Lead Instructor (Level 2) for the YRE Program. YRE programming is designed to encourage students to remain on campus in a safe, fun, and nurturing environment. A variety of programs provide the MHS students the opportunity to explore a passion or interest in an experiential setting.
   
   The lead instructor is responsible for development and facilitation of programming while ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of the group. Also, offers an authentic hands-on experiential learning activity during scheduled calendar breaks. To learn more about YRE and our program, visit our YRE page by clicking HERE!
   
   Work schedule: hours are flexible based on students' needs and up to 29 hours per week, but most hours would be from 8:15 AM-3:15 PM during scheduled school breaks and/or summer break as schedule permits.
   
   This is an on-site position that pays $18.91 an hour and we do not offer benefits to part-time employees.
   Qualifications
   
   High School Diploma or equivalent.
   Education and/or human services field of study preferred.
   Prior successful experience working with children in a school or organizational setting.
   Ability to design, lead, and facilitate programming for large and small groups of children and youth
   Working knowledge of positive disciplinary practices and understanding of the developmental needs of children from Pre-k through 12th grade.
   Valid PA Driver's license in good standing, as this position requires transporting students to and from activities around the campus.
   Demonstrated strong organizational and communication skills.
   CPR/First Aid Certification, a plus.
   Must have a desire to work directly with children and youth from a diverse background.
   Must demonstrate a high level of integrity, as all MHS Staff are role models for the MHS Students.
   
   Schedule: Part-time
   Job Type: Temporary Work
   Job Posting: Aug 31, 2022

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find lead instructors 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 lead instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit lead instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit lead instructors, 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.

   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 lead instructor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lead instructor 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 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.

   To prepare for the new lead instructor first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a lead instructor?