How to hire a public school teacher

How to hire a public school teacher, step by step

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

What does a public school teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the public school teacher you need to hire. Certain public school 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 public school teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, public school 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.

   This list presents public school teacher salaries for various positions.

   Type of Public School Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Public School Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$16-25
   Teacher/Tutor	A teacher/tutor is primarily in charge of facilitating discussions and other learning activities for students. Their duties typically revolve around developing lesson plans and teaching materials, assessing the progress of students through quizzes and examinations, assisting students in areas they find difficult, and helping them develop their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills... Show more	$12-33
   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:

   • Public Schools
   • Classroom Management
   • K-12
   • Student Learning
   • Language Arts
   • K-6
   • Learning Styles
   • IEP
   • Social Studies
   • Elementary Schools
   • Instructional Materials
   • Learning Environment
   • Professional Development
   • Physical Education

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
   • Modify curriculum to meet the needs of ESL students.
   • Work with ESL pupils in addition to mainstream students.
   • Participate in annual IEP meetings for individual students
   • Deliver language arts instruction through a variety of literary genres including classic literary texts, creative nonfiction, and contemporary fiction.
   • Plan and deliver instruction for ESOL and ESE reading groups

   More public school teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your public school teacher job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A public school teacher 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 public school teacher in Indiana may be lower than in Maryland, and an entry-level public school teacher usually earns less than a senior-level public school teacher. Additionally, a public school teacher 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 public school teacher salary

   $42,231yearly

   $20.30 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level public school teacher salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average public school teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$71,977	$35
   2	New York	$62,082	$30
   3	California	$53,641	$26
   4	Illinois	$46,730	$22
   5	Kansas	$45,875	$22
   6	Texas	$44,061	$21
   7	New Mexico	$42,025	$20
   8	Maine	$40,977	$20
   9	Florida	$38,947	$19
   10	Missouri	$38,766	$19
   11	Arizona	$37,005	$18

   Average public school teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Baltimore City Public Schools	$92,650	$44.54	11
   2	Chicago Public Schools	$53,275	$25.61	28
   3	Aspire Public Schools	$51,369	$24.70	109
   4	Wichita Public Schools	$47,068	$22.63	25
   5	USD 210	$46,806	$22.50	14
   6	Greensville County Public Schools	$46,745	$22.47	12
   7	Santa Fe Public Schools	$45,813	$22.03	80
   8	St. HOPE	$45,452	$21.85	5
   9	The City University of New York	$44,789	$21.53	12
   10	Minneapolis Public Schools	$44,643	$21.46	24
   11	Hayward Unified School District	$44,282	$21.29
   12	Presidio Hill School	$44,168	$21.23
   13	St. Vrain Valley Schools	$43,849	$21.08
   14	Corpus Christi Independent School District	$43,676	$21.00	8
   15	Kelly Services	$43,316	$20.82	746
   16	Connections For Kids	$43,189	$20.76	3
   17	Tri-County Special Education	$42,767	$20.56	14
   18	Yuma Middle School	$42,522	$20.44	3
   19	Atsá Biyáázh Community School	$42,428	$20.40	2
   20	University of Northern Colorado	$42,298	$20.34	10

4. Writing a public school teacher job description

   A public school 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a public school teacher job description:

   Public school teacher job description example

   Elementary School Teacher Evaluation Instrument: TKES Division Department: School Operations Pay Type: Salaried-Exempt Retirement: TRS Pay Grade: Certified Salary Schedule Contract Work Year: 190 Days Reports to: Principal
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS A valid Georgia Educator Certificate in assigned teaching field as required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission
   GOAL Provide instruction; encourage and assess student achievement and progress; and manage the learning environment effectively.
   REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Demonstrate an understanding of the curriculum, subject content, pedagogical knowledge and the needs of students by providing relevant learning experiences. Exhibit best practice based on current research and facilitates students' use of higher-level thinking skills in instruction. Plan, using State and local school district curricula and standards, effective strategies, resources and data to address the differentiate needs of all students. Analyze and use student learning data to inform planning. Promote student learning by using research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content area to engage students in active learning and to promote key skills. Use appropriate instructional technology and a variety of research-based instructional strategies and resources, effectively to enhance student learning. Challenges and supports each student's learning by providing appropriate content and developing skills which address individual learning differences. Use a variety of diagnostic, formative and summative assessment strategies and instruments that are valid and appropriate for the content and student population to inform instructional modifications for each student. Systematically gather, analyze and use relevant data to measure student progress; to inform instructional content and delivery methods; and to provide timely and constructive feedback to both students and parents/guardians. Provide a well-managed, safe, supportive and orderly environment that is conducive to learning; encourages respect for all; and promotes an understanding of students' diversity. Establish clear expectations for classroom rules, routines and procedures and enforce them consistently and appropriately. Implement appropriate school safety measures and crisis emergency plans to create and sustain a secure and healthy learn environment consistent with District and school rules, policies and procedures. Create a student-centered, academic environment in which teaching and learning occur at high levels and students are self-directed learners. Exhibit a commitment to professional ethics and the school's mission; participate in professional growth opportunities and contribute to the profession. Compile, maintain and submit all required reports accurately and in a timely manner. Carry out duties in accordance with federal and state laws, Code of Ethics for Educators in Georgia, and established State and local School Board policies, regulations and practices. Possess and maintain valid and appropriate license, certificate and/or credential as may be required for this position. Follow work scheduling and attendance requirements in a regular, predictable and punctual manner. Communicate effectively with students, parents or guardians, district and school personnel, and other stakeholders in ways that enhance student learning. Collaborate with designated paraprofessionals and other school and District personnel to ensure student progress. Engage in ongoing communication and share instructional goals, expectations and student progress in a timely and constructive manner, using a variety of modes of communication as appropriate. Perform professionally and efficiently other duties and responsibilities as assigned. IMPORTANT NOTES ESSENTIAL DUTIES Job descriptions are designed and intended only to summarize the essential duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements for the purpose of clarifying the general nature and scope of a position's role as part of the overall organization.
   Job descriptions do not list all tasks an employee might be expected to perform, and they do not limit the right of the employer/supervisor to assign additional tasks or otherwise to modify duties to be performed even if seemingly unrelated to the basic job.
   Every employee has a duty to perform all assigned tasks. (An employee who is assigned a duty or task believed to be unlawful should report the assignment to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.)
   It should also be noted the order of duties/ responsibilities as listed in the job description is not designed or intended to rank the duties in any order of importance relative to each other.
   
   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
   
   In filling a vacant position, preferred or required credentials regarding education, training, experience, and other bona fide occupational qualifications may be established.
   The credentials shown in this job description may be interpreted only as the minimum criteria existing at the time the description was developed.
   Other bona fide occupational qualifications and criteria may be utilized as needed in the selection process.
   
   DISCLAIMER
   
   Presently BCPS does not have an opening in this area. However, your application will remain on file and will be considered if and when a position becomes available.
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find public school teachers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your public school teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit public school 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

   Recruiting public school teachers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 public school teacher

   Once you've found the public school 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.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new public school 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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