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How to hire a preschool lead teacher

Preschool lead teacher hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring preschool lead teachers in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a preschool lead teacher is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per preschool lead teacher on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 737,887 preschool lead teachers in the US and 54,870 job openings.
  • Charlotte, NC, has the highest demand for preschool lead teachers, with 9 job openings.
  • Atlanta, GA has the highest concentration of preschool lead teachers.

How to hire a preschool lead teacher, step by step

To hire a preschool lead teacher, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a preschool lead teacher, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step preschool lead 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 preschool lead teacher job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new preschool lead teacher
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a preschool lead teacher do?

A preschool lead teacher is responsible for managing the overall learning progress of preschool students. Preschool lead teachers to develop engaging and fun activities for the young learners to monitor their personal and social development. They also utilize learning techniques suitable for young learners' minds to improve their competencies and build self-confidence. They create progress reports and communicate the children's development to their parents. A preschool lead teacher should always adhere to the school regulations to ensure a safe and secure environment for the children.

Learn more about the specifics of what a preschool lead teacher does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The preschool lead teacher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect preschool lead teacher 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 preschool lead teachers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Preschool Lead TeacherDescriptionHourly rate
    Preschool Lead TeacherPreschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. They teach reading, writing, science, and other subjects in a way that young children can understand.$11-21
    Infant And Toddler TeacherAn infant and toddler teacher is a professional who aids in the cognitive and social development of preschool children by teaching them the most basic skills that focus on play-centered learning and creativity. Infant and toddler teachers must help children develop positive self-images and encourage them to explore their interests and develop social skills... Show more$11-17
    Teacher AideTeacher aides help lead teachers in managing the classroom. They assist teachers in conducting classroom sessions by setting up the classroom in advance, sourcing materials needed for class activities, helping in presentations, and guiding students during class activities... Show more$11-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CPR
    • Professional Development
    • Child Care
    • Classroom Management
    • Child Development
    • Open Communication
    • Pre-K
    • Social Development
    • Early Development
    • Art Projects
    • Emotional Development
    • Early Childhood Development
    • Preschool Classroom
    • Classroom Environment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Instruct small groups in writing, letter identification, mathematics, and Health/Nutrition.
    • Offer tutoring in writing, mathematics, Spanish, English, and other courses.
    • Complete annual child abuse training, annual first aid and CPR, and annual food handlers training.
    • Establish a history of graduating Pre-K students to kindergarten with the ability to read and do basic math.
    • Educate students per Pre-K curriculum requirements, assemble portfolios, progress reports, and assessments for each child.
    • Provide first aid or CPR, prevent the spread of blood borne pathogens, and access emergency services as needed.
    More preschool lead teacher duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, preschool lead teachers' average salary in alabama is 54% less than in new york.
    • Seniority. Entry-level preschool lead teachers 47% less than senior-level preschool lead teachers.
    • Certifications. A preschool lead teacher 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 lead teacher's salary.

    Average preschool lead teacher salary

    $15.95hourly

    $33,176 yearly

    Entry-level preschool lead teacher salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average preschool lead teacher salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$46,827$23
    2New York$45,738$22
    3Massachusetts$43,920$21
    4Minnesota$38,781$19
    5Oregon$38,674$19
    6Washington$38,399$18
    7New Jersey$37,718$18
    8Missouri$36,143$17
    9Virginia$35,894$17
    10Maine$35,222$17
    11Colorado$34,999$17
    12Nebraska$34,657$17
    13Kansas$33,610$16
    14Arizona$33,569$16
    15Texas$32,971$16
    16Maryland$31,235$15
    17Illinois$31,223$15
    18Pennsylvania$31,169$15
    19Ohio$29,476$14
    20North Carolina$28,335$14

    Average preschool lead teacher salary by company

  4. Writing a preschool lead teacher job description

    A preschool lead teacher 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 preschool lead teacher job description:

    Preschool lead teacher job description example

    • Our wonderful company emergent curriculum that empowers teachers to teach to the child and what the children want to learn, not to an outdated, dusty program
    • Flexible schedule with the option to work part-time or the schedule that fits your life
    • Opportunity for professional development paid for by the company through our partnership with Child Care Education Institute, in addition to state trainings
    • Opportunity for advancement within the first year
    • Unmatched, generous employee childcare discount (50% off for infants and toddlers, 75% for preschool and school age)
    • Competitive benefits plan including medical, dental, and vision

    Applicants must demonstrate that they can meet the State of Washington mandates regarding COVID-19 vaccinations - or be able to obtain a medical or religious exemption.

    If you are looking for a company that is understanding of your commitments, don't hesitate to apply! If you are a working parent, we encourage you to apply! We have a very generous employee childcare discount. If you are a student, we can work around your class schedule and availability.

    EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Early Learning Academies is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against protected characteristics. It is our policy to abide by all federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person's race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status, veteran status (including protected veterans), marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bonafide occupational qualification exists.


  5. Post your job

    To find the right preschool lead teacher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with preschool lead teachers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit preschool lead teachers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    To find preschool lead teacher 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

    Your first interview with preschool lead teacher candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 lead teacher

    Once you've decided on a perfect preschool lead teacher candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new preschool lead teacher. 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 preschool lead teacher?

Before you start to hire preschool lead teachers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire preschool lead teachers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $33,176 per year for a preschool lead teacher, 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 preschool lead teachers in the US typically range between $11 and $21 an hour.

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