How to hire a martial arts instructor

How to hire a martial arts instructor, step by step

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

What does a martial arts instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a martial arts instructor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A martial arts instructor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, martial arts instructors 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 martial arts instructor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Martial Arts Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Martial Arts Instructor		$11-24
   Dance Teacher	Dance Teachers are responsible for leading dance classes to teach individuals or groups of people various dancing techniques. Dance Teachers are required to help their students improve their dancing skills by participating in amateur or professional dance competitions or performing in social events such as high school reunions... Show more	$15-34
   Instructor	Instructors are responsible for imparting knowledge to students. They are well-versed in different topics related to their area of teaching... Show more	$14-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kids
   • CPR
   • Seminar
   • Law Enforcement
   • Dojo
   • Self-Defense Techniques
   • Safety Rules
   • Thai
   • Combat
   • Self Discipline
   • Private Lessons
   • Self Control
   • Leadership
   • Fitness Classes

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage aspiring mix martial arts (MMA) fighters.
   • Lead children's classes, training kids in kicks, punches, self-defense and how to avoid physical confrontations.
   • Certify in CPR, first aid, and AEDs.
   • Train casual students and MMA fighters.
   • Plan lessons and clean the dojo every evening.
   • Teach defensive class for DMV point reduction and insurance discount.

   More martial arts instructor duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $16.48hourly

   $34,287 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level martial arts instructor salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average martial arts instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$46,445	$22
   2	Massachusetts	$40,178	$19
   3	South Carolina	$36,260	$17
   4	Maryland	$35,852	$17
   5	Indiana	$35,793	$17
   6	Arizona	$35,454	$17
   7	California	$35,147	$17
   8	Wisconsin	$34,679	$17
   9	Virginia	$33,609	$16
   10	Washington	$33,210	$16
   11	Texas	$33,205	$16
   12	Minnesota	$32,774	$16
   13	Tennessee	$31,594	$15
   14	Georgia	$30,732	$15
   15	North Carolina	$28,373	$14
   16	Iowa	$21,277	$10

   Average martial arts instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University at Buffalo	$50,457	$24.26	36
   2	Tapout Fitness	$35,405	$17.02
   3	Young Champions Of America	$34,062	$16.38
   4	TKO Enterprises Ltd	$34,047	$16.37
   5	Town of Leesburg, VA	$33,134	$15.93
   6	Anaheim Family YMCA	$32,446	$15.60	1
   7	YMCA of Greater Kansas City	$30,864	$14.84
   8	City of Delaware, Ohio - Government	$26,361	$12.67	3
   9	YMCA of Greater New York	$25,992	$12.50	30
   10	YMCA of Greater Boston	$25,697	$12.35	59
   11	YMCA of Austin	$24,282	$11.67	12
   12	Scott County Family YMCA	$23,934	$11.51	10

4. Writing a martial arts instructor job description

   A good martial arts instructor 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 martial arts instructor job description:

   Martial arts instructor job description example

   Premier Martial Arts has been in business for more than 20 years, and since our founding in 1998 we have helped thousands of students of all ages realize their full potential. Premier Martial Arts delivers a best-in-class martial arts experience that helps our students develop the personal skills that are necessary to build a successful life. Our mastery of teaching martial arts over the past two decades is evident in our structured and thorough curriculum, which is standardized across our 100+ locations across the United States, Canada and England.Our curriculum focuses on character development far beyond the importance of self-defense. We teach our young students how to respect their elders, how to be accountable, how to focus and how to stay in shape in a fun and exciting atmosphere. We empower our adult students with the self-confidence to overcome anxieties and trauma, in an environment that fosters inclusion and social belonging. Job Summary: The head instructor at a Premier Martial Arts location is someone who is passionate about changing lives through day-to-day martial arts instruction. An outgoing and leadership-driven personality is a must. A person who can not only teach but more importantly inspire others to be the best version of themselves is required. A PMA instructor utilizes the tools given to them to impact as many people as possible, is always a student and never lets their ego get the best of them. A learning attitude is key to the success of this position. Check out a PMA Instructor Testimonial Responsibilities:

   • Providing A+ Quality of Class Instruction:
   • Instruction of 5-7 High Energy, Benefit Driven, and “educating” classes daily
   • Customer Relations with the students and parents
   • Curriculum Testing of Students
   • Marketing
   • Appointment Setting
   • Events- Birthday Parties, Parent’s Night Out

   Qualifications:

   • Prior Martial Arts Experience
   • Black Belt Certificate is not mandatory but a plus
   • Organized-Self Starter
   • Service First Mentality

   Benefits/Perks:

   • Health Insurance
   • Continuing education and opportunities

   Premier Martial Arts Ranking: We provide hands-on martial arts training to both black belts and color belts.

   • Karate
   • Sport Karate
   • Tae-Kwon-Do
   • Kali
   • Submission Grappling

   1st-3rd Krav Maga Specific Ranks Available

   • Sport-Weapons- Bo Staff, Nunchucks, Escrima Stick, Kamas, Sword, Double Nunchuks

   Quarterly Live Events Held Across The Nation:

   • Curriculum Colleges
   • Certified Instructor Training Courses
   • Annual Awards Dinner
   • Annual Conference with Outside Guest Speakers

   Premier Martial Arts Tournament Circuit for Students and Instructors Upward Mobility Available:

   • Manager
   • Multi-Unit Manager
   • Regional Manager
   • Owner

   If you are interested in working for a martial arts company dedicated to your growth and success, all while being able to impact your community, look no further! Premier Martial Arts has the vision, the tools, and the infrastructure to support your martial arts professional dreams!

   This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchise location, and not to Premier Martial Arts Corporate.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right martial arts instructor 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 martial arts instructors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit martial arts instructors 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 martial arts instructor job on Zippia to find and attract quality martial arts instructor candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting martial arts instructors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 martial arts instructor

   Once you've decided on a perfect martial arts instructor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 martial arts 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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