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How to hire a substitute teacher pre-school teacher

Substitute teacher pre-school teacher hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring substitute teachers pre-school teachers in the United States:

  • There are a total of 844,876 substitute teachers pre-school teachers in the US, and there are currently 69,420 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a substitute teacher pre-school teacher is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per substitute teacher pre-school teacher on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Fillmore, CA, has the highest demand for substitute teachers pre-school teachers, with 1 job openings.

How to hire a substitute teacher pre-school teacher, step by step

To hire a substitute teacher pre-school teacher, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a substitute teacher pre-school teacher:

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

    Before you start hiring a substitute teacher pre-school teacher, 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?

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

    Here's a comparison of substitute teacher pre-school teacher salaries for various roles:

    Type of Substitute Teacher Pre-School TeacherDescriptionHourly rate
    Substitute Teacher Pre-School 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.$12-25
    TeacherBeing a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world... Show more$15-33
    Preschool Lead TeacherA 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... Show more$11-21
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Environment
    • Mathematics
    • Pre-K
    • Parent Conferences
    • Teacher Conferences
    • Physical Education
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
    • Administer standardized tests (mathematics and reading).
    • Utilize play and interactive activities to develop language and vocabulary, introduce scientific and mathematical concepts and improve social skills.
    • Set up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers in accordance with ECERS and ITERS-R assessments.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your substitute teacher pre-school teacher job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A substitute teacher pre-school teacher salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, substitute teachers pre-school teachers' average salary in alabama is 56% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level substitute teachers pre-school teachers earn 54% less than senior-level substitute teachers pre-school teachers.
    • Certifications. A substitute teacher pre-school teacher with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a substitute teacher pre-school teacher's salary.

    Average substitute teacher pre-school teacher salary

    $37,252yearly

    $17.91 hourly rate

    Entry-level substitute teacher pre-school teacher salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025
  4. Writing a substitute teacher pre-school teacher job description

    A substitute teacher pre-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 substitute teacher pre-school teacher job description:

    Substitute teacher pre-school teacher job description example

    SALARY RANGE: Grade 6 STARTING SALARY:

    JOB SUMMARY: Provide age-appropriate preschool instruction that supports the social, emotional physical and cognitive development of children. Promote family engagement and meet the requirements of federal, state, and local/state policies and procedures. Also, responsible for supervision of additional classroom teaching staff, volunteers, and interns in their assigned duties.

    CHILDREN SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITY: Responsible for child supervision and for keeping children safe.

    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

    1. Responsible for creating a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social and emotional development of all students.
    2. Prepare lessons in instructional formats that accommodate differences in individual child needs.
    3. Plan and use appropriate instructional strategies, activities, and resources that reflect an understanding of the learning styles and needs of assigned students.
    4. Responsible for implementing the curriculum of the classroom, and planning and writing weekly learning experience plans.
    5. Responsible for daily attendance, case notes, and reports as required and data entry into Child Plus, Teaching Strategies Gold or another designated database.
    6. Responsible for the development and periodic review of individualized educational plans for each child.
    7. Responsible for scheduling home visits (minimum of two) and parent contacts (Head Start).
    8. Responsible for room coverage at all times as well as maintaining a safe indoor/outdoor environment.
    9. Maintain orderly classroom and keep equipment/supplies in good condition.
    10. Attendance and participation in professional development opportunities and staff meetings.
    11. Supervision of classroom staff, professionals, interns, and volunteers.
    12. Work collaboratively with Family Advocate, component staff and community partners.
    13. Adhere to Alliance for Community Empowerment Inc. policies and procedures related to prevention and response to COVID-19, including participating in training, use of PPE, implementation of universal precautions, social distancing, and keeping workspace clean.
    14. Other related duties as assigned.

    EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

    • A Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a non ECE Bachelor’s with 12 credits in ECE. Six months or more of classroom experience in ECE setting preferred.

    OR

    • Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education pursuing Bachelors in Early Childhood Education or related field wand the CT Early Childhood Teacher Credential with six months or more of classroom experience in ECE setting preferred.
    • Must have proficient computer and technology skills as well as knowledge of various processes including database management, spreadsheet, word processing, internet, and email.
    • Must obtain knowledge of Federal Head Start ERSEA Performance Standards, philosophy, and mission.
    • Ability to plan, prioritize and schedule work tasks in order to meet deadlines.
    • Ability to produce written reports and documentation.
    • Commit to continuous improvement by attending trainings and professional development opportunities as desired or as assigned.
    • Excellent organizational skills required.
    • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
    • Bilingual preferred, but not required.

    Please Note: Must be able to lift a child with an average weight of 50 pounds, if necessary.


    AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER – THROUGH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION



    Offering Incentive Pay!

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right substitute teacher pre-school teacher 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 substitute teacher pre-school teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit substitute teacher pre-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

    To successfully recruit substitute teachers pre-school teachers, 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.

    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 substitute teacher pre-school teacher

    Once you've selected the best substitute teacher pre-school teacher 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.

    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.

    To prepare for the new substitute teacher pre-school teacher first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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 substitute teacher pre-school teacher?

Hiring a substitute teacher pre-school teacher comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting substitute teachers pre-school teachers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of substitute teacher pre-school teacher recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Substitute teachers pre-school teachers earn a median yearly salary is $37,252 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find substitute teachers pre-school teachers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $25.

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