Post job

How to hire a life skills trainer

Life skills trainer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring life skills trainers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a life skills trainer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per life skills trainer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 17,873 life skills trainers in the US, and there are currently 39,666 job openings in this field.
  • West Covina, CA, has the highest demand for life skills trainers, with 7 job openings.

How to hire a life skills trainer, step by step

To hire a life skills trainer, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a life skills trainer:

Here's a step-by-step life skills trainer hiring guide:

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

    The life skills trainer 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 life skills trainer 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 life skills trainer that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of life skills trainer salaries for various roles:

    Type of Life Skills TrainerDescriptionHourly rate
    Life Skills TrainerFitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercises (exercises for the heart and blood circulation), strength training, and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.$10-19
    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
    Residential CounselorA residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences... Show more$12-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Medication Administration
    • Therapeutic Recreation
    • Medical Appointments
    • Direct Support
    • Rehabilitation
    • CPR
    • Supported Living
    • Social Work
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Direct Care
    • Behavioral Issues
    • Medical Supervision
    • Mental Health
    • Community Resources
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Train and experience at managing challenging classroom situations using CPI methods and positive behavior reinforcement practices.
    • Deliver individual counseling and perform crisis intervention duties including reporting suicidal patients.
    • Cultivate a culture of community by providing community integration at a residential rehabilitation facility for persons with severe brain injuries.
    • Acquire CPR and life skills certifications.
    • Perform when and if need for first aid and or CPR.
    • Assist clients with proper ADL needs, such as showering, providing meals, and cleaning rooms.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, life skills trainers' average salary in south carolina is 57% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level life skills trainers 46% less than senior-level life skills trainers.
    • Certifications. A life skills trainer 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 life skills trainer's salary.

    Average life skills trainer salary

    $14.82hourly

    $30,822 yearly

    Entry-level life skills trainer salary
    $22,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025
  4. Writing a life skills trainer job description

    A life skills trainer 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 life skills trainer job description:

    Life skills trainer job description example

    1. Regular and predictable attendance is an essential requirement of this position. Successfully complete all required and applicable trainings and in-services including annual refresher and appropriate intervention techniques.

    2. Provide input as requested in the development of the consumer’s treatment plans and goals.

    3. Implement and participate in the clinical and behavioral goals for each consumer using approved methods of instruction and intervention.

    4. Provide thorough, accurate, and on-time daily observational data and document using electronic record according to Agency standards.

    5. Safely transport consumers as needed, report any vehicle maintenance needs, and meet criteria to drive according to Agency standards. In individual CLS, staff are expected to use personal vehicle that is properly insured and in good working condition for which they will receive mileage reimbursement per program guidelines.

    6. Coordinate multiple priorities and have the ability to change tasks as needed to meet the needs of the program and or participants.

    7. Ability to plan, schedule, and implement programming individually or for large and small groups in the facility and or community setting.

    8. Support individuals utilizing the Culture of Gentleness approach and intervene in any crisis situation that arises according to established procedures. Physical intervention should be the last-resort method. Promote physical and emotional safety and wellbeing of all individuals involved.

    9. Has thorough knowledge of fire and smoke alarm systems and all emergency evacuation procedures according to agency standards in facility based settings. In individuals home and or community based settings assist with emergency procedures per needs of person and as Plan of Service identifies.

    10. Communicate and record health concerns in accordance with Agency standards and program guidelines. May administer and document prescribed medications and treatments as prescribed/directed by physicians in accordance with Agency standards in facility setting. In Individual CLS only monitoring, guideing, and assisting occur not administration.

    11. Provide personal care for individuals who are unable to complete self-care tasks independently, per program guidelines/eligibility which may include: bathing, hygiene, skin care, toileting, bowel and bladder programs, feeding (including G tubes), dressing and transfers.

    12. Maintain a safe working environment by: using proper lifting techniques, positioning people safely, safely securing people in their wheelchairs and addressing safety issues before an accident occurs. Also responsible for reporting any accidents, filling out incident and basic injury reports as needed in a timely manner.

    13. Promote a positive morale among staff by modeling and encouraging effective teamwork and communications. Continually work to promote successful working relationships among all co-workers; alert supervisory staff of situations that may require further intervention.

    14. Monitor, supervise, accompany and interact with consumers in their home, community, or program that is consistent with their Individual Plan of Service (IPOS) and the Culture of Gentleness.

    15. Develop and maintain appropriate/healthy professional relationships with consumers while providing consistent follow through and enforcing applicable rules and routines of the home and/or program. Develop and maintain appropriate professional relationships with family/friends/guardians.

    Requirements:

    Educational / Talent Requirements:

    1. High school diploma or GED, preferred.

    2. Ability to work with and respect individuals from various religious, ethnic, and social-economic backgrounds.

    3. Demonstrated ability to take initiative and action to respond, resolve and follow up regarding customer service issues with all customers in a timely manner.

    4. Ability to lift up to 50lbs non-stationary weight. Ability to bend, stoop, twist, pivot and kneel while bearing weight of a consumer. Demonstrated ability to transfer individuals using proper lifting techniques. Ability to stand a majority of the eight-hour shift

    5. Valid driver’s license, preferred (Driver’s License may be required by some programs)

    6. Ability to complete all required training for the position, including annual trainings and professional development. This includes being certified in CPR/First Aid.

    7. Demonstrates critical thinking/problem solving skills; responding to medical and behavioral issues in a respectful manner or that is consistent with treatment plans.

    8. Ability to take initiative and action to respond, resolve, and report or follow-up regarding service/treatment concerns, outstanding issues with family or guardians that is consistent with organizational standards and expectations.

    9. Ability to work as part of a diverse team; demonstrating respect for cultural differences. Can accept instructions from co-workers and provide direction when required, understanding that the intent is to assure the needs of people served are met.

    10. Demonstrated ability to communicate in written, verbal and electronic formats to meet position requirements. Demonstrated basic computer skills.

    Work Experience Requirements:

    1. See specific program for career paths and experience (generally 0-2 years of related experience).

    Shift: 1st Position Type (Portal Searching): Regular Full-Time
  5. Post your job

    To find the right life skills trainer 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 life skills trainers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit life skills trainers 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 life skills trainer job on Zippia to find and recruit life skills trainer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with life skills trainer 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 life skills trainer

    Once you have selected a candidate for the life skills trainer 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.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new life skills trainer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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 life skills trainer?

Before you start to hire life skills trainers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire life skills trainers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $30,822 per year for a life skills trainer, 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 life skills trainers in the US typically range between $10 and $19 an hour.

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

Hiring life skills trainers FAQs

Search for life skills trainer jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse personal care and attendants jobs