How to hire an online instructor

How to hire an online instructor, step by step

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

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

What does an online instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the online instructor you need to hire. Certain online 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 an online 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 an online instructor that fits the bill.

   This list presents online instructor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Online Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Online Instructor	An Online Instructor teaches remote post-secondary classes through the use of email, discussion pages, and video. They develop a curriculum based on the best knowledge in the field.	$15-29
   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
   Presenter	A presenter is a professional who is responsible for providing information or media to the general public through a live or pre-recorded broadcast. Presenters should research the topics and background information for items that are to be featured on the program and at the same time, rehearse lines that are going to be presented... Show more	$13-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Skype
   • Math
   • Zoom
   • Learning Objectives
   • K-12
   • Mathematics
   • Literature
   • Grammar
   • Adobe Connect
   • Curriculum Development
   • Moodle
   • Syllabus
   • Course Materials
   • Course Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize blackboard management system to encourage online discussions and manage grades.
   • Prepare and deliver instruction to students in topics such as literature, grammar, and writing.
   • Develop course materials such as course calendar, syllabus, handouts, and additional resources for students.
   • Develop rubric syllabus, and introduction materials.
   • Serve as theory instructor for medical-surgical nursing and pharmacology for junior students and leadership and management nursing for senior students.
   • Collaborate with faculty to provide input for student IEP's and PPT meetings.

   More online instructor duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, online instructors' average salary in oklahoma is 40% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level online instructors earn 48% less than senior-level online instructors.
   • Certifications. An online instructor 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 an online instructor's salary.

   Average online instructor salary

   $45,114yearly

   $21.69 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level online instructor salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average online instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$58,672	$28
   2	New Hampshire	$51,877	$25
   3	Oregon	$51,800	$25
   4	Illinois	$51,418	$25
   5	Massachusetts	$51,233	$25
   6	Wisconsin	$50,090	$24
   7	Maryland	$48,609	$23
   8	West Virginia	$48,302	$23
   9	Virginia	$47,999	$23
   10	Michigan	$47,888	$23
   11	Iowa	$47,238	$23
   12	Rhode Island	$47,232	$23
   13	Connecticut	$47,138	$23
   14	Minnesota	$46,448	$22
   15	Pennsylvania	$46,355	$22
   16	Alaska	$45,476	$22
   17	Hawaii	$45,465	$22
   18	New Jersey	$44,920	$22
   19	California	$44,235	$21
   20	Alabama	$43,202	$21

   Average online instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	New York University	$61,328	$29.48	25
   2	Midland University	$55,471	$26.67	6
   3	Wayne Community College	$52,136	$25.07
   4	Louisiana State Police	$49,337	$23.72
   5	Johns Hopkins Medicine	$48,375	$23.26	2
   6	Daymar College	$47,849	$23.00
   7	1871	$45,132	$21.70
   8	Fluent City	$44,956	$21.61
   9	Johns Hopkins University	$42,377	$20.37	38
   10	The Princeton Review	$40,403	$19.42	43

4. Writing an online instructor job description

   An online instructor 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an online instructor job description:

   Online instructor job description example

   Are you looking to make an impact through a rewarding, flexible and remote part-time gig? Did you do well on the CFA exam? Are you a finance expert? Help students get where you have gone. Teach test-prep skills and strategies to help future CFA Charter Holders pass the CFA exam so they can take the next step in their finance or investment career! You will be a strong presenter and discussion leader, and/or you have formal experience teaching and tutoring. Either way, in conjunction with our superior training and comprehensive curriculum will give you the skills you need to successfully lead and support students through their test prep.
   As a CFA instructor, you will be expected to:
   Instruct students in a dynamic and supportive manner, adapting to students' needs and keeping them engaged with the material Promptly respond to questions and inquiries from the students during or after class sessions Motivate your students through a results oriented, time-tested Princeton Review curriculum in order to build stronger, more confident learners Model professionalism and accountability at all times by showing up to class on time, replying to students in a timely manner, and holding students accountable for assignments Create an open, safe, and positive learning environment
   REQUIREMENTS
   Bachelor's degree Full CFA preferred Ideally private sector experience in finance, accounting or investment banking Ideally experience teaching CFA, finance or accounting at the university level Confident and engaging discussion leader Excellent oral and communication skills Availability on nights and/or weekends Applicants must be able to pass the official test or Princeton Review practice test for at least Level I Access to a reliable internet connection and computer in a reliably quiet location Able to work in the US without visa sponsorship
   Why you want to teach for The Princeton Review:
   Paid comprehensive training and lesson preparation Competitive hourly teaching rates Flexible hours, chose which classes/schedules you want to teach Remote work opportunity
   Compensation:
   
   Pay: $30-$55 per hour, based on credentials and geographic location
   
   The company does not provide benefits for this position.
   
   About The Princeton Review:
   
   The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep, and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of students bound for college and graduate school to achieve their education and career goals through online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources, and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House. The company'sbrand is one of the largest online tutoring services in the U.S. It comprises a community of thousands of tutors who have delivered more than 19 million one-to-one tutoring sessions. The Princeton Review is headquartered in New York, NY. Follow the company on,and.
   
   The Princeton Review is an equal employment opportunity employer. The Princeton Review's policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. The Princeton Review also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also The Princeton Review's policy to comply with all applicable laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
   
   The Princeton Review is a drug-free workplace.
   
   Please note that the above-referenced position can be performed anywhere in the United States except in the following states: Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Wyoming.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right online instructor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find online instructor candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit online instructors, 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 online instructor

   Once you've found the online instructor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   To prepare for the new online 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 an online instructor?