How to hire a peer teacher

How to hire a peer teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step peer teacher hiring guide:

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

What does a peer teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the peer teacher you need to hire. Certain peer teacher 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

   A peer teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, peer teachers 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.

   Here's a comparison of peer teacher salaries for various roles:

   Type of Peer Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Peer Teacher	High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.	$17-31
   Physical Education Teacher	A physical education teacher is responsible for devising lessons and strategies to educate the students about health and physical fitness through various sports and recreational activities. It is also their responsibility to facilitate such activities, ensuring the safety and camaraderie between students... Show more	$16-32
   Special Education Teacher	A special education teacher is responsible for teaching students with disabilities. Special education teachers are trained professionals to provide distinct learning instructions for children with special cases for them to achieve their potentials and improve their self-confidence... Show more	$18-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Professional Development
   • Learning Environment
   • Instructional Materials
   • K-12
   • Learning Process
   • K-8
   • Student Performance
   • State Standards
   • IEP
   • Kindergarten
   • Physical Education Curriculum
   • Remainder
   • Social Growth

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead professional development for colleagues on integrating graphing calculators into the curriculum.
   • Design and implement lesson plans in drawing, collage, and printmaking for children and adults.
   • Introduce campers to basic printmaking, oil and acrylic painting, as well as collage work and abstract art.
   • Work closely with adapt sections and develop appropriate lesson activities for learning success by differentiating instruction according to student IEP.
   • Head Jr. High football coach as well as assistant football, and basketball coach.
   • Execute and plan community and school wide events, including working closely with the drama and music departments.

   More peer teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the peer teacher job description is a good way to get more applicants. A peer teacher salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a peer teacher in North Carolina may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level peer teacher. Additionally, a peer teacher with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average peer teacher salary

   $49,811yearly

   $23.95 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level peer teacher salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average peer teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$66,249	$32
   2	New Jersey	$58,732	$28
   3	Pennsylvania	$54,555	$26
   4	California	$54,224	$26
   5	Washington	$51,509	$25
   6	Illinois	$51,464	$25
   7	Florida	$49,243	$24
   8	Virginia	$47,444	$23
   9	Texas	$47,218	$23
   10	Michigan	$46,399	$22
   11	South Carolina	$44,897	$22
   12	Georgia	$42,143	$20
   13	Arkansas	$41,748	$20
   14	New Mexico	$41,247	$20
   15	Missouri	$40,905	$20
   16	North Carolina	$40,731	$20
   17	Arizona	$38,984	$19
   18	Montana	$38,276	$18
   19	Oklahoma	$36,486	$18

   Average peer teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Columbia International University	$59,562	$28.64
   2	Paulding County High School	$56,463	$27.15	4
   3	Jefferson County Public School	$55,971	$26.91	30
   4	Acadia Healthcare	$55,907	$26.88	30
   5	West Contra Costa Unified School District	$55,679	$26.77	76
   6	Chino Valley Unified School District	$54,949	$26.42
   7	Hemet Unified School District	$54,796	$26.34	7
   8	Atlanta International School	$54,777	$26.34	14
   9	Santa Rosa City Schools	$54,776	$26.33
   10	Edmond Public Schools	$54,544	$26.22	5
   11	Newton Public Schools	$54,073	$26.00	14
   12	Aspire Public Schools	$53,295	$25.62	65
   13	Zion Elementary School District 6	$53,028	$25.49	8
   14	YES Prep Public Schools	$52,719	$25.35	1
   15	Scholar Academies	$52,616	$25.30	9
   16	Camino Nuevo Charter Academy	$52,556	$25.27	8
   17	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	$52,435	$25.21
   18	Moorpark Unified School District	$52,200	$25.10	3
   19	KIPP DC	$52,135	$25.06	83
   20	Challenger School	$52,045	$25.02	32

4. Writing a peer teacher job description

   A good peer teacher 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 peer teacher job description:

   Peer teacher job description example

   Provides an educational atmosphere that supports the intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual and emotional growth of students age 9-18. Responsible for designing and implementing curriculum, lesson plans and instruction that result in academic success in alignment with Longmore Academy's goals and the mission of MHY. Ensures the physical and emotional well-being of students through positive direction and role-modeling, and otherwise contributes to an effective and positive school environment by performing the following duties.
   
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.
   
   Implements weekly lesson plans and instructional activities that support an environment in which students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences.
   
   Identifies, assesses and changes instructional resources in response to diverse student needs, backgrounds, learning styles, and special needs.
   
   Supervises students at all times while in the classroom, as well as during arrival, dismissal, and breaks or lunches.
   
   Maintains effective and efficient records and associated procedures, including those related to student grades, attendance, discipline, etc.
   Assists in assessing and designing revised curriculum in response to changing curricular needs.
   Documents critical incidents and informs the Director of Education of the same.
   Communicates with the Director of Education, teachers, and residential managers, staff, therapists and students' parents as required regarding student academic, behavioral or emotional needs or progress.
   Demonstrates advances in student academic and behavioral performance.
   Provides appropriate de-escalation responses to students as necessary, and leads others in following appropriate response methods.
   Supports all residents' treatment and behavioral goals, and works with them to attain goals.
   Participates in team meetings, professional development, in-services and other MHY meetings as necessary.
   Models professional and ethical standards when dealing with students, parents, peers, and the community.
   
   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   This position may at times have supervisory responsibilities of Teacher's Aides.
   
   EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
   
   Bachelor's degree in a related field of study strongly preferred; a minimum of one year of prior related experience in classroom management and instruction of junior and/or senior high school students required; or equivalent combination of education and experience. PA state teaching certification required. Must be 21 years of age with current Act 33, 34 and FBI Clearances. Current PA state driver's license with an insurable driving record required. Must possess demonstrated PC skills including common MS Office applications. Additional training or licensing as required by regulations, or as deemed necessary by the Executive Director or Director.
   
   EOE

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find peer teachers 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 peer teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level peer teachers 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 peer teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit peer teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit peer teachers, 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 peer teacher

   Once you've found the peer teacher 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

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