How to hire a preschool assistant

How to hire a preschool assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step preschool assistant hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a preschool assistant, 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 preschool assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, preschool assistants 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 shows salaries for various types of preschool assistants.

   Type of Preschool Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Preschool Assistant	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$11-16
   Preschool Teacher	A project leader is in charge of managing and leading a team to reach project goals in adherence to schedules and budgets. Their responsibilities revolve around setting objectives and guidelines, assessing workforce performance, assisting staff in difficult areas, answering inquiries, and resolving issues to maintain an efficient workflow... Show more	$11-22

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • Child Care
   • Classroom Management
   • Math
   • Behavioral Issues
   • Instructional Materials
   • Social Development
   • Art Projects
   • Child Safety
   • Early Childhood Development
   • Bulletin Boards
   • Behavior Management
   • Free Play
   • Learning Environment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Receive training in CPR and first aid, and gain experienceworking with children with food allergies.
   • Assist child in accordance to his IEP.
   • Assist in preparation of and implementation of IEP plan.
   • Review daily lessons, activities and responsibilities with Pre-K teacher.
   • Help instruct and supervise a Pre-K classroom in social and developmental activities.
   • Develop activates that introduce math and literacy concepts.

   More preschool assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your preschool assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A preschool assistant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, preschool assistants' average salary in iowa is 32% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level preschool assistants 34% less than senior-level preschool assistants.
   • Certifications. A preschool assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a preschool assistant's salary.

   Average preschool assistant salary

   $13.67hourly

   $28,442 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level preschool assistant salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average preschool assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$32,638	$16
   2	Washington	$30,129	$14
   3	Indiana	$30,059	$14
   4	New Jersey	$29,675	$14
   5	Oregon	$28,701	$14
   6	Texas	$27,543	$13
   7	Colorado	$26,135	$13
   8	Illinois	$24,950	$12
   9	South Carolina	$24,545	$12
   10	South Dakota	$24,493	$12
   11	Florida	$24,318	$12
   12	Minnesota	$24,054	$12
   13	Tennessee	$23,365	$11

   Average preschool assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Greenfield Union School District	$32,110	$15.44	2
   2	Cuesta College	$30,342	$14.59	2
   3	Esf, Inc.	$30,288	$14.56
   4	Orange County Government	$29,904	$14.38
   5	Gateway Unified School District	$29,611	$14.24
   6	Paso Robles Joint Unified School District	$28,388	$13.65	2
   7	Bullitt County Public Schools	$28,286	$13.60	4
   8	Temecula Valley Unified School District	$27,964	$13.44
   9	Shalom Austin JCC	$27,854	$13.39
   10	City of Eugene	$27,718	$13.33
   11	Community Care of Rutherford County	$27,633	$13.29	1
   12	Broward County Public Schools	$27,223	$13.09	25
   13	Apple Tree Children's Centers	$27,002	$12.98	2
   14	Step By Step	$26,959	$12.96	1
   15	The Learning Experience	$26,780	$12.88	1,184
   16	Goddard School	$26,762	$12.87	937
   17	City of Plymouth, MN	$26,301	$12.64	1
   18	City of Lakewood	$26,137	$12.57
   19	City of Edmonds, Official City Account	$25,947	$12.47
   20	Des Plaines Park District	$25,792	$12.40

4. Writing a preschool assistant job description

   A good preschool assistant 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 preschool assistant job description:

   Preschool assistant job description example

   Preschool Teacher Assistant Lil' Explorers
   
   Prior Lake, MN 55372
   
   Now offering 1,000 sign on bonus and 75% off childcare tuition!!
   
   We're hiring immediately! Lil' Explorers , part of the Cadence Education family, is currently seeking a Preschool Teacher Assistant to bring your love of children and past experience in childcare, daycare or early childhood education to our team of kind, caring Teachers and staff.
   
   Our schools are staffed with people who are talented, fun, and genuinely enthusiastic about child development and learning. We encourage collaboration and cherish open-communication in each school and with our corporate office. We work hard to create an outstanding work-life balance by supporting our staff members every step of the way.
   
   Enjoy the many benefits of working at Cadence Education:
   
   + Competitive compensation
   
   + 75% childcare tuition discount
   
   + Educational and professional development
   
   + Comprehensive benefit package for all full-time employees, including:
   
   + Paid time off that increases with seniority
   
   + Medical, dental, vision options available
   
   + Additional life, disability, and retirement plans
   
   + Tuition reimbursement
   
   + Company-paid life insurance
   
   + Paid holidays
   
   SAFETY FIRST: The health and safety of every person in our schools is our primary concern. We are taking every precaution to prevent potential exposure or spread of COVID-19 within our schools. We are actively partnering with local health departments and closely following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
   
   Cadence Education is one of the premier early childhood educators in the United States, operating over 275 private preschools and elementary schools across 30 states. With over 29 years in business, we have developed an unparalleled expertise in preparing students to thrive in the next step of their childhood.
   
   Our overall mission is to provide parents with peace of mind by giving children an exceptional education every fun-filled day in a place as nurturing as home. This mission can only be accomplished through a team of passionate childcare professionals who combine their talents to provide an unparalleled level of care and compassion for children and their families. Our research-based curriculum and home-based environments are the leading edge of early education.
   
   #CR
   
   Company Overview
   
   Preschool Teacher Assistant Qualifications
   
   + High school diploma or equivalent
   
   + Must be at least 18 years old
   
   + Must meet all state preschool teacher assistant requirements
   
   + High level of flexibility and willingness to work within business hours
   
   + Previous experience as a teacher assistant or in a licensed daycare preferred
   
   Preschool Teacher Assistant Job Responsibilities:
   
   A Preschool Teacher Assistant will accept the philosophy of Cadence Education and will work as part of the teaching team to encourage a positive learning environment for all children within the center. Document and share with parents the important milestones in a child's day. Collaborate with other passionate preschool teachers and leaders to implement an engaging and developmentally appropriate curriculum. Respect and observe children's interests. Intervene when needed to maintain safety. Enhance children's play with language, toys, and activities. Encourage and model social behavior and expectations which are developmentally appropriate. Share ideas in planning a daily schedule which provides a balance of activities: quiet/active, indoor/outdoor, fine/gross motor, etc.
   
   Cadence Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
   
   School Name 968 - Prior Lake
   
   ID 2022-23512
   
   Category Teacher and School Staff
   
   Position Type Regular Full-Time

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit preschool assistants, 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 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 preschool assistant

   Once you've selected the best preschool assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new preschool assistant. 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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