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How to hire a physics instructor

Physics instructor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring physics instructors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a physics instructor is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new physics instructor to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a physics instructor, step by step

To hire a physics instructor, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a physics instructor:

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

    Before you post your physics instructor 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 physics instructor 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?

    Hiring the perfect physics instructor 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 physics instructors and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Physics InstructorDescriptionHourly rate
    Physics InstructorPostsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and career and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.$19-40
    Physical Education TeacherA 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
    Student InstructorTypically, a Student Instructor engages students in learning the assignments, materials, pacing, resources, and activities. Student Instructors learn and enforce questioning and discussion strategies in promoting knowledge acquisition and student participation... Show more$15-35
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • MCAT
    • Mathematics
    • Syllabus
    • Lab Experiments
    • Chemistry
    • Physical Therapy
    • Calculus
    • Professional Development
    • Rehabilitation
    • Criminal Justice
    • Course Curriculum
    • Course Materials
    • Blackboard
    • Curriculum Development
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage courses via online Moodle2 platform, including recording lectures and uploading PowerPoint notes.
    • Develop lesson plans and teaching strategies for math classes to improve student performance.
    • Develop and teach 1st and 2nd semester calculus and non-calculus base general physics and the associated lab courses.
    • Develop and modify FORTRAN codes for many complex calculations.
    • Prepare the lectures, assignments, labs, and examine material.
    • Work with the local schools and area residents to implement youth volleyball and basketball leagues
    More physics instructor duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    $59,031yearly

    $28.38 hourly rate

    Entry-level physics instructor salary
    $40,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average physics instructor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$88,525$43
    2California$79,138$38
    3Massachusetts$74,126$36
    4Kansas$72,549$35
    5Nevada$72,317$35
    6Connecticut$70,350$34
    7Illinois$69,998$34
    8Virginia$66,731$32
    9Washington$65,717$32
    10Oregon$61,689$30
    11Iowa$60,905$29
    12Alabama$56,918$27
    13Nebraska$54,811$26
    14Texas$53,614$26
    15Colorado$53,112$26
    16Florida$52,927$25
    17Georgia$52,783$25
    18New Jersey$52,548$25
    19North Carolina$49,120$24

    Average physics instructor salary by company

  4. Writing a physics instructor job description

    A good physics 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 physics instructor job description:

    Physics instructor job description example

    Dillard University, classified by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a balanced Arts and Sciences sciences/ professions institution, located in the culturally rich and diverse city of New Orleans, Louisiana invites qualified applicants to apply for the position of Adjunct Instructor of Physics in the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), for the Fall 2022 semester.

    Physics Part-Time Instructor

    Qualification :

    A Ph.D., M.S. or M.A. in any field of physics or science education from an accredited institution is required.

    Job Description :

    This is a physics adjunct/ part-time position. The appointment is effective August 2022 . This position reports to the Chairperson of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

    Job Requirements:

    Teaching responsibilities will include up to 9 hours lecture and/ or lab per week.

    Deadline:

    Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. The positions begin August 2022.

    Application: Applications should be submitted via the Employment webpage located on the Dillard University website. Complete applications consist of a cover letter, curriculum vitae, one-page statement of teaching philosophy, unofficial transcript of highest degree earned (official transcripts will be required later of all finalists), and three letters of recommendation describing the applicant's teaching skills.

    Dillard University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Individuals who require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in the search process should notify the Office of Human Resources.

    Summary of Part-time Faculty Member Duties and Job Requirements

    Academic Advising Part-time faculty members do not serve as student academic advisors.

    Environment Part-time faculty member’s work in classrooms, offices, labs and related venues to accomplish educational and research activities.

    Meetings Part-time faculty members are not expected to attend and participate in program, school, college and General Assembly meetings.

    Office Hours Part-time faculty members are not required to schedule officer hours; however, they are asked to make themselves available either immediately before or after class meetings.

    Physical Requirements Communicate with students, staff and colleagues. Read academic texts and materials, student papers, etc. Operate personal computer and audio-visual equipment. Stand or sit for up to one to three hours at a time. Fly or drive to off-site meetings or conference. Move around campus for classes and meetings. Other requirements as specified by a job description.

    Scholarly Activity Each part-time faculty member is expected to stay current in his/her field.

    Teaching Part-time faculty members may be assigned up to nine credit hours each semester. Part-time faculty members are expected to prepare for and meet their teaching responsibilities for every class.

    University/Community Service At his/her discretion, part-time faculty members may participate in activities relating to university programs, courses, governance, etc., or community activities which impact on, or are impacted by, the University and which contribute to the growth and development of student, the university and the community.

    Hiring Manger Dr. Lovell Agwaramgbo

    cc Shareen Tuircuit

    Powered by JazzHR

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  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right physics 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.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your physics instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit physics instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit physics instructors, 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.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 physics instructor

    Once you've found the physics 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.

    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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new physics instructor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  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 physics instructor?

Recruiting physics instructors involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $59,031 per year for a physics instructor, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for physics instructors in the US typically range between $19 and $40 an hour.

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