How to hire a vocational instructor

How to hire a vocational instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vocational instructor hiring guide:

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

What does a vocational instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a vocational instructor, 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 vocational instructor 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 vocational instructor that fits the bill.

   This list presents vocational instructor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Vocational Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Vocational Instructor	Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. They teach academic and technical content to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.	$14-26
   Adjunct Faculty	Adjunct faculty is the collective term for adjunct professors or lecturers. The adjunct faculty teaches students based on the limited-term of their contract... Show more	$21-73
   Teacher-In-Training	A teacher-in-training is a teaching professional who offers technical teaching assistance to teachers in developing effective behavior management and instructional strategies to support student learning. The teacher must collaborate with principals while employing diverse techniques to increase the effectiveness of student learning... Show more	$11-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plumbing
   • Course Objectives
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Vocational Training
   • Safety Standards
   • Curriculum Development
   • Intellectual Disabilities
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Direct Supervision
   • Classroom Environment
   • Vocational Education
   • Industrial Training
   • Vocational Program
   • Behavioral Issues

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish creating new work processes for the students to follow; successfully bringing the required ASHP and the PTCB require standards.
   • Utilize blackboard management system to encourage online discussions and manage grades.
   • Teach all requirements necessary to prepare for the certification exam: proper aseptic sterile product technique for compounding and iv preparation.
   • Provide yearly first aid and CPR training for students and faculty.
   • Provide pertinent information and opinions for ISP and IEP team meetings.
   • Develop new products, jigs, fixtures, and production processes.

   More vocational instructor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the vocational instructor job description is a good way to get more applicants. A vocational instructor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a vocational instructor in Kansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level vocational instructor. Additionally, a vocational instructor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average vocational instructor salary

   $41,610yearly

   $20.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vocational instructor salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average vocational instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$50,201	$24
   2	Oregon	$44,612	$21
   3	Arizona	$41,065	$20
   4	Nebraska	$40,223	$19
   5	Tennessee	$38,384	$18
   6	Kentucky	$37,060	$18
   7	Florida	$36,308	$17
   8	Oklahoma	$35,167	$17
   9	Georgia	$31,378	$15

   Average vocational instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	New York State Restaurant Association	$42,989	$20.67
   2	Pearl Buck Center	$42,751	$20.55
   3	Pico de Gallo	$41,936	$20.16	69
   4	Easter Seals South Florida	$41,926	$20.16
   5	Beacon Group, Inc.	$41,824	$20.11	2
   6	Virtual Employee	$41,790	$20.09	1
   7	The GEO Group	$41,191	$19.80	3
   8	Woods Services	$39,408	$18.95
   9	Management & Training	$38,912	$18.71	41
   10	North Central Texas College	$38,880	$18.69	2
   11	The Evergreens	$38,844	$18.68
   12	My Florida Regional Mls	$38,744	$18.63
   13	Volunteers of America-Greater New York	$38,166	$18.35
   14	The Home For Little Wanderers	$38,117	$18.33
   15	State Of Florida	$35,105	$16.88	43
   16	Maine	$34,980	$16.82
   17	Florida Department of Transportation	$34,475	$16.57
   18	Wyoming	$33,922	$16.31	1
   19	State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia	$33,799	$16.25	271
   20	S.C. Department of Commerce	$32,629	$15.69

4. Writing a vocational instructor job description

   A vocational instructor 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 vocational instructor job description:

   Vocational instructor job description example

   Join a team with values that match your own and make a difference in the lives of people needing second chances.
   
   Teaching is more than a job for you-it's a calling. At the Sanders Estes Unit located in Venus, Texas we share your commitment to education.
   Vocational Instructor Facility name: Sanders Estes Unit Location: 1100 FM 1807 , Venus, TX 76084 Pay: $17.00 per hour Work schedule: Full-time; 8-hour days Benefit package includes: Health/dental/vision/life insurance 401(k) with company match Paid time off, Paid holidays (9 total) Professional development assistance Opportunities for job advancement Job responsibilities:
   Essential Functions:
   Deliver individualized competency based instruction through classroom and laboratory management in the occupational program areas taught to inmates. Develop performance objectives and criterion-referenced tests in accordance with established program content. Review, select and adapt instructional materials to help individuals reach mastery of the competencies required for entry, advancement and upgrading occupations. Plan activities to efficiently initiate budget requests to assure that all equipment, supplies and materials are available to support a progressive training schedule. Monitor motivation, discipline and learning difficulties to bring about positive changes in the behavior of inmates. Execute all applicable forms to adhere to facility procedures. Promote the development of positive social skills through modeling appropriate behaviors and intervening when inappropriate behaviors are observed. Maintain accountability of inmates and property; adhere to safety practices. It is expected that the incumbent shall perform other duties as assigned within his/her capabilities as determined by management.
   
   Education and Experience Requirements:
   Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) area of assignment.
   OR
   Bachelor's Degree from an accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE) and three (3) years full-time, wage-earning experience within the last eight (8) years in the subject content area of assignment.
   OR
   Graduation from an accredited senior high school or equivalent or GED and five (5) years full-time, wage-earning experience within the last eight (8) years in the subject content area of assignment. Valid driver's license in the state of Texas with an acceptable driving record required, unless waived by management.
   
   Must successfully complete annual in-service training requirements and pass an annual background check, both of which must be approved by TDCJ. Why: Teach where you can have the greatest impact! teacher

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right vocational instructor 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 vocational instructors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit vocational instructors 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.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your vocational instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit vocational instructor 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 vocational instructors, 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 vocational instructor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the vocational instructor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

   To prepare for the new vocational instructor 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 vocational instructor?