How to hire a visual arts teacher

How to hire a visual arts teacher, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a visual arts 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?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a visual arts teacher to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a visual arts teacher that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of visual arts teachers.

   Type of Visual Arts Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Visual Arts Teacher	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers prepare younger students for future schooling by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading.	$16-32
   Educator	An educator is responsible for teaching students and contributes to their learning development. Duties of an educator include creating learning modules and materials, developing engaging activities, and facilitating learners' discussions... Show more	$13-31
   Practicum Student	Practicum students are responsible for applying their classroom learning to practical application, depending on their chosen field. A practicum student shadows an experienced staff of an organization and learns everything on how a certain profession works... Show more	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Student Learning
   • Professional Development
   • Public Schools
   • Learning Environment
   • III
   • Fine Arts
   • Art Club
   • Instructional Materials
   • Student Performance
   • Art History
   • K-12
   • Student Participation
   • Sculpture

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
   • Use of various fine art experiences including; drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, sculpture.
   • Completed/Maintain IEPs for students; communicate w/parents via email, phone, IEP meetings and progress reports.
   • Completed/Maintain IEP's; communicate with parents via email, phone, IEP meetings and quarterly progress reports.
   • Train students in art skills such as painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, digital and mix media.
   • Coordinate RTI support strategies with mathematics and reading teachers to better work with students in one-on-one and small group instructional settings.

   More visual arts teacher duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, visual arts teachers' average salary in arizona is 48% less than in maryland.
   • Seniority. Entry-level visual arts teachers 49% less than senior-level visual arts teachers.
   • Certifications. A visual arts 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 visual arts teacher's salary.

   Average visual arts teacher salary

   $49,527yearly

   $23.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level visual arts teacher salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 8, 2026

   Average visual arts teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$65,641	$32
   2	Washington	$63,445	$31
   3	New York	$60,653	$29
   4	Massachusetts	$58,725	$28
   5	California	$57,397	$28
   6	Connecticut	$56,755	$27
   7	Utah	$52,678	$25
   8	Illinois	$51,258	$25
   9	Texas	$49,666	$24
   10	New Mexico	$45,765	$22
   11	Florida	$45,017	$22
   12	North Carolina	$44,638	$21
   13	Colorado	$44,568	$21
   14	Indiana	$40,065	$19
   15	Arizona	$37,200	$18
   16	Puerto Rico	$29,441	$14

   Average visual arts teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Archer School for Girls	$66,905	$32.17	2
   2	Community School of Music and Arts	$64,268	$30.90
   3	Boston Public Schools	$62,717	$30.15	21
   4	Rutgers University	$60,514	$29.09	32
   5	Madera High School	$57,527	$27.66	3
   6	KIPP DC	$56,174	$27.01	86
   7	The Northwest School	$55,448	$26.66
   8	Hyde Leadership Charter School (Elementary & Middle School)	$54,267	$26.09	4
   9	Ef International School of English	$53,319	$25.63
   10	Distinctive Schools	$51,809	$24.91	3
   11	Culver City Unified School District	$51,624	$24.82	3
   12	KIPP New Jersey	$50,384	$24.22	12
   13	Canyon Independent School District	$50,194	$24.13	7
   14	Pike Township Fire Dept	$49,995	$24.04	5
   15	Making Waves Education Program	$49,875	$23.98	12
   16	Joliet Schools 86	$49,713	$23.90	7
   17	Envision	$49,419	$23.76	5
   18	Urban Discovery Schools	$48,697	$23.41	2
   19	Chatham County Schools	$48,614	$23.37	12
   20	Tempe Elementary School District	$48,217	$23.18	6

4. Writing a visual arts teacher job description

   A good visual arts teacher 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 visual arts teacher job description:

   Visual arts teacher job description example

   This is an onsite role reporting 320 Seneca Avenue in San Francisco. Envision Education's vaccination policy asks that all instructional candidates are fully vaccinated. Currently all staff are asked to wear masks while in school.
   WHO WE ARE:
   
   The mission of Envision Education is to transform the lives of students - especially those who will be the first in their family to attend college - by preparing them for success in college, career, and life. We accomplish our mission through our nationally replicated Portfolio Defense assessment model, which authentically measures the most important things students need in order to succeed in college and career: academic content, leadership skills, and deeper learning competencies such as reflection and growth mindset. Portfolio Defense uniquely prepares students, particularly those who are historically underserved, to get into college and then to persist until they earn a degree. Envision is also differentiated by a focus on whole-child education that integrates rigorous academics, high-quality social-emotional learning, and critical cultural literacy. Read about our approach here.
   
   We operate three high schools and two middle schools, serving approximately 1,500 students in the San Francisco Bay Area: 70% are low-income; 94% from communities of color; and 75% first generation college bound. 100% of our graduates are accepted to 2- or 4-year colleges, with 78% accepted to 4-year institutions. What's more, our students persist in college once they enroll. Our college persistence rate is 87% from first to second year, compared to the national average of 74%. We also operate Envision Learning Partners, a coaching and training division working with schools across the country to adapt and adopt the Portfolio Defense model. ELP is working with more than 1,000 educators in 30+ school networks and reaching more than 200,000 students.
   
   Envision Education has made an explicit commitment to becoming an exemplar network of schools with an instructional and cultural vision rooted in an anti-racist and pro-Black framework. We believe that targeted universalism-focusing on the needs of a group that has historically been marginalized-will support not only that group, but everyone, and that being explicitly anti-racist and pro-Black is essential to changing the status quo for all of our students.
   
   RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   Instruction
   
   * Create lesson and unit plans aligned to CCSS and high-quality performance assessments
   * Empower students with a sense of agency as they build problem solving skills to enter high school ready for success.
   * Leverage student-facing data, technology, and web-based programs to guide students in their own learning.
   * Apply strategies with frequent data-cycles to improve student outcomes and help students identify their next area of growth.
   * Collaborate in grade level and department teams.
   
   Culture
   
   * Serve as an advisor and teach daily advisory curriculum for a small group of students
   * Teach school-wide curriculum focused on adolescent development, team building, growth mindset, social-emotional learning, and brain science
   * Reflect frequently with students to prepare evidence for presentations of learning.
   * Know their students well, develop a strong sense of community in the classroom, and personalize each student's learning experience
   * Build strong relationships with families, including meeting with families on a scheduled basis to share information about their students and the school.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * B.A. or B.S. required
   * Valid California Teaching Credential or out of state equivalent with ability to transfer required.
   * English Language Learner authorization or in process
   * Experience delivering strong data-driven instruction to achieve significant student academic achievement gains
   * Receptiveness to feedback and desire to continuously improve instruction in service of student academic outcomes
   * Experience working successfully with parents and families, especially African American, Latino, and immigrant families
   * Commitment to the mission of Envision Education
   
   COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
   
   * Competitive based on credential, education, and experience.
   * Certified art teachers for SY 22-23 are also eligible for up to $7,500 in bonus opportunities.
   
   * Paid sick leave
   * Retirement system from STRS
   * Excellent health benefits package with employer contribution to benefits
   * Optional Flexible Benefits Plan
   * 403b Plan
   * Commuter Check Plans
   * Life Insurance at no cost to employee
   
   As an equal opportunity employer, we believe deeply in diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all people. Envision recruits, employs, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, and the many other characteristics that make us diverse.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right visual arts 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 visual arts teacher job on Zippia to find and attract quality visual arts teacher candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit visual arts teachers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 visual arts teacher

   Once you've selected the best visual arts 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new visual arts 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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