How to hire a literacy specialist

How to hire a literacy specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step literacy specialist hiring guide:

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

What does a literacy specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your literacy specialist 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 literacy specialist 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 literacy specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, literacy specialists 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 literacy specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Literacy Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Literacy Specialist	Adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers instruct adults in basic skills, such as reading, writing, and speaking English. They also help students earn their high school equivalent diploma.	$21-37
   Adult Education Teacher	An adult education teacher teaches and coordinates programs developed for adult learners. Adult education teachers assist learners who stop schooling early to provide for their families... Show more	$14-26
   Curriculum Coordinator	A curriculum coordinator facilitates the development and implementation of curriculums at schools, colleges, and other organizations that offer learning services. They primarily assist teachers in improving school curriculums by conducting research and assessments, monitoring students' academic progress, developing learning resources and materials, coordinating with internal and external parties, promoting educational programs, and securing the supplies that the curriculum requires... Show more	$16-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Instructional Strategies
   • School Administration
   • Assessment Data
   • Staff Development
   • Curriculum Development
   • English Language
   • Student Achievement
   • Language Development
   • RTI
   • Instructional Practices
   • Kindergarten
   • Progress Monitoring
   • Literacy Program
   • Literacy Curriculum

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist children on the autism spectrum academically and socially to achieve integration into a mainstream educational environment.
   • Coordinate family ESL classes with childcare.
   • Tutor and periodically assess multiple small groups of students of varying ages and abilities in science, mathematics, and literacy.
   • Used manipulatives to teach basic fundamentals in mathematics.
   • Plan and organize public awareness events to promote dyslexia awareness and ascertain the needs in the community for individualize instruction.
   • Provide daily intensive data-driven literacy instructional support and intervention for at-risk students.

   More literacy specialist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, literacy specialists' average salary in georgia is 52% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level literacy specialists earn 42% less than senior-level literacy specialists.
   • Certifications. A literacy specialist 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 literacy specialist's salary.

   Average literacy specialist salary

   $59,520yearly

   $28.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level literacy specialist salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average literacy specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$71,058	$34
   2	California	$67,481	$32
   3	Washington	$65,442	$31
   4	Maine	$65,351	$31
   5	Maryland	$59,920	$29
   6	Montana	$58,660	$28
   7	Kansas	$57,836	$28
   8	Massachusetts	$57,698	$28
   9	Pennsylvania	$57,668	$28
   10	South Carolina	$56,384	$27
   11	Minnesota	$56,266	$27
   12	Alabama	$54,694	$26
   13	Texas	$52,878	$25
   14	Illinois	$52,674	$25
   15	Florida	$50,633	$24
   16	Arizona	$50,591	$24
   17	North Carolina	$50,581	$24
   18	Ohio	$50,390	$24
   19	Virginia	$49,973	$24
   20	Colorado	$47,344	$23

   Average literacy specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Excel Academy Charter Schools	$70,285	$33.79	2
   2	Boston Public Schools	$65,421	$31.45	4
   3	EDC	$64,882	$31.19
   4	Newton Public Schools	$63,877	$30.71	1
   5	International Rescue Committee	$61,524	$29.58	1
   6	Broward County Public Schools	$60,602	$29.14	1
   7	KIPP SoCal Public Schools	$59,585	$28.65
   8	Rocky Mountain Prep	$59,394	$28.55
   9	Hemet Unified School District	$59,130	$28.43
   10	Archdiocese Of San Antonio	$58,636	$28.19	2
   11	826 National	$58,498	$28.12
   12	The New York Public Library	$58,478	$28.11
   13	YES Prep Public Schools	$58,387	$28.07
   14	Americorps	$58,384	$28.07	10
   15	Washington State University	$58,237	$28.00
   16	Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES	$56,701	$27.26
   17	Biddeford Middle School	$56,645	$27.23	2
   18	Athlos Academies	$56,214	$27.03
   19	Gwinnett County Board of Education	$55,056	$26.47
   20	University Settlement	$55,015	$26.45

4. Writing a literacy specialist job description

   A good literacy specialist 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 literacy specialist job description:

   Literacy specialist job description example

   + + Position Type:
   
   Teachers/ Literacy Instructional Special
   
   + Date Posted:
   
   8/15/2022
   
   + Location:
   
   Instructional Support Center
   
   Job Code: Literacy Instructional Special - 060162 Standard Hours: 40 Department: Lang Arts Office - 222212 Empl Class: T2A
   
   Minimum Salary: $51,646.00/Annually
   
   Maximum Salary: $104,500.00/Annually
   
   Scheduled Days: 190
   
   Target Openings: 1
   
   License and Certification Qualifications: Eligible for Georgia teacher certification in one or more of the following teaching fields: 1) Secondary (6-12) English; 2) Middle Grades (4-8) Language Arts; and 3) Early Childhood Education (P-5). Reading Specialist endorsement and Coaching endorsement preferred.
   
   Education Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in related field required. Master's degree in related field preferred.
   
   Experience Qualifications: Three years of successful teaching experience with emphasis in language arts preferred. Experience delivering professional learning opportunities and experience leading professional learning teams preferred.
   
   Skills Qualifications: Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks/projects concurrently; ability to create and deliver professional learning that supports the direction of the language arts program and that supports the vision, mission, and goals of the district; strong communication skills, both in oral and written format; strong technology skills, including the Microsoft Office Suite programs; knowledge and application of research-based instructional strategies in literacy instruction; knowledge of Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum with in-depth knowledge of literacy; knowledge of techniques for integrating curriculum, GCPS policies, and effective instructional practices; ability to work successfully with colleagues; ability to project and generate a positive attitude; and ability to effect change.
   
   Primary Responsibilities: Support, develop, and coach language teachers on content knowledge and skills for effective teaching and learning in support of the district's vision, mission, and goals.
   
   1. Design and deliver professional learning for the language arts program.
   
   a. Provide professional learning opportunities by modeling and facilitating instruction with teachers.
   
   b. Develop and facilitate staff development inclusive of the workshop model (K-5), Gradual Release of Responsibility (6-12), formative assessment practices, and evaluating student work.
   
   c. Lead cluster literacy vertical team collaboration.
   
   d. Demonstrate practical application of research based, learner-centered instructional strategies including the Quality-Plus Teaching Strategies.
   
   2. Demonstrate content knowledge and professional growth.
   
   a. Engage in continual learning to deepen content and pedagogical knowledge in language arts and literacy (current and emerging trends/needs).
   
   b. Develop and improve knowledge through professional development, conferences, publications, and collegial networks.
   
   c. Model effective literacy instruction for teachers.
   
   3. Provide support for local school leadership and instructional teams.
   
   a. Support school leadership and instructional teams in the development and sustainability of an effective local language arts program.
   
   b. Effectively analyze and use local school data to lead driven by data talks to impact student achievement in language arts.
   
   c. Plan and lead new teacher induction for schools/clusters in collaboration with the Offices of Language Arts and Staff Development.
   
   d. Model protocols to lead course teams and grade level teams by analyzing student work, facilitating formative assessment practices, development teacher content knowledge, and/or pedagogical knowledge in collaboration with the Offices of Language Arts and Staff Development.
   
   4. Perform Title allowable duties as assigned.
   
   Physical Demands:
   
   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find literacy specialists 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 literacy specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level literacy specialists 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 literacy specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit literacy specialist 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 literacy specialists, 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 literacy specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the literacy specialist 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new literacy specialist 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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