How to hire a mentor

How to hire a mentor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mentor hiring guide:

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

What does a mentor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a mentor, 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

   Hiring the perfect mentor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of mentors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Mentor	Description	Hourly rate
   Mentor	A Mentor advises, trains, and counsels mentees in their prospective or existing businesses, careers, friendships, and others topics. They encourage mentees to take responsibility for their own decisions, plan actions and solutions, and keep up-to-date and accurate records of mentees' progress.	$9-29
   Educational Aid	An educational aide is needed to thoroughly manage and assess children's development and learning. They help teachers monitor students' development and class standing... Show more	$11-17
   Substitute Teacher	Substitute teachers are responsible for filling in the role of regular teachers who will not be able to come to school. They may be engaged short-term or long-term, depending on the need... Show more	$11-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Role Model
   • Mathematics
   • Mental Health
   • CPR
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Community Resources
   • at-Risk Youth
   • Community Services
   • Professional Development
   • Substance Abuse
   • Conflict Resolution
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Direct Care
   • Direct Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Ensure community youth receive timely access to CBHI services by managing waitlist per MCE requirements.
   • Provide academic support services for elementary students requesting assistance in math
   • Help develop IEP goals and objectives.
   • Assist new students with Javascript concepts and frameworks.
   • Tutor student athletes in economics courses of various levels.
   • Calculate GPA's to help students matriculate in program curriculum.

   More mentor duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, mentors' average salary in alaska is 53% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mentors earn 68% less than senior-level mentors.
   • Certifications. A mentor 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 mentor's salary.

   Average mentor salary

   $35,581yearly

   $17.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mentor salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 12, 2026

   Average mentor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$55,154	$27
   2	New York	$52,658	$25
   3	District of Columbia	$50,938	$24
   4	New Jersey	$50,095	$24
   5	Massachusetts	$49,071	$24
   6	Ohio	$45,974	$22
   7	Connecticut	$43,506	$21
   8	Illinois	$42,867	$21
   9	North Carolina	$40,358	$19
   10	Pennsylvania	$40,266	$19
   11	Michigan	$39,503	$19
   12	California	$39,009	$19
   13	Indiana	$38,646	$19
   14	Tennessee	$34,070	$16
   15	Oregon	$33,619	$16
   16	Maine	$33,349	$16
   17	Washington	$31,653	$15
   18	Texas	$31,010	$15
   19	Florida	$29,305	$14
   20	Utah	$29,031	$14

   Average mentor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Eli Lilly and Company	$139,549	$67.09	1
   2	Chicago State University	$90,230	$43.38
   3	Busey	$74,065	$35.61
   4	Park University	$68,125	$32.75
   5	eClinicalWorks	$67,649	$32.52
   6	Appian	$65,797	$31.63
   7	Mercy College	$64,438	$30.98
   8	Rutgers University	$58,073	$27.92	1
   9	New Jersey Institute of Technology	$57,635	$27.71
   10	American University	$56,066	$26.95
   11	Chicago Public Schools	$51,774	$24.89
   12	Precision Castparts	$50,773	$24.41
   13	Patricia And Phillip Frost Museum Of Science	$48,983	$23.55
   14	Florida International University	$47,873	$23.02
   15	C.R. England	$43,495	$20.91
   16	PSEA	$41,078	$19.75	4
   17	Morgan Community College	$38,971	$18.74
   18	Schoolcraft College	$38,199	$18.36
   19	Salem-Keizer Public Schools	$38,017	$18.28
   20	West Hills College Lemoore	$37,731	$18.14	1

4. Writing a mentor job description

   A mentor 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 mentor job description:

   Mentor job description example

   Mentor/Transporter I Join the OMNI Family Do you want to be a part of a team that improves lives, empowers people, and strengthens communities? Want to be a thought leader and change maker? If yes, then look no further. Omni Visions is looking for a trauma competent, quality-driven professional to join our amazing team as an Mentor/Transporter. As part of the Omni Family of Services, Omni Visions is a multi-state agency that provides services for adults and children. We are 100% employee owned and we are as dedicated to supporting our team members as we are to the clients we serve. Our mission is to provide hope and healing. To be the provider of choice for those in need and our referring partners who are seeking innovative, quality family and community services which improve lives. The Mentor/Transporter is critical to achieving this focus. As the Mentor/Transporter you would provide assistance to clients and other team members by performing specific support functions such as providing transportation and acting as a role model for clients. What you bring to this role: - Bring your passion and expertise - A desire to help others become the best they can be in serving our clients while managing a healthy work/life balance. - Ability to be a team member and thought leader. - High School Diploma or GED from an accredited high school. - Minimum of 3 years’ prior relevant teaching assistant experience working with children with developmental and intellectual and/or physical disabilities required or equivalent experience and education. - Must be able to successfully complete training and certification in Universal Precautions, First Aid and CPR - Proof of Automobile Insurance and Reliable Transportation - Valid driver’s license with F endorsement.
   Our Company Benefits Include: Competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package
   • Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
   • Life Insurance
   • Long-Term Disability
   • Short Term Disability
   • Flexible Spending Accounts
   • Health Savings Accounts
   • Critical Illness
   • Accident Insurance
   • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
   • Employee Assistance Program
   • Paid Vacation Time (based on eligibility)
   • Paid Sick Time (based on eligibility)
   • Paid Holidays (based on eligibility)
   • Mileage & Monthly Tech Allowance (based on eligibility)
   • On-demand Pay Options
   • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) long-term retirement plan - Omni is a 100% employee owned company. Through the (ESOP), the company’s success provides employees ownership interest in the company. As the company grows and matures, so will the retirement funds of our employees.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find mentors 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 mentors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mentors 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 mentor job on Zippia to find and recruit mentor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit mentors, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 mentor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the mentor 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new mentor. 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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a mentor?