Looking for teaching jobs in Arizona?
I’ve got you covered this blog post.
I lived and taught on a reservation in Arizona for five years – and if I can save you time, I want to help!
In that blog post, I dive deep into what it’s like to teach on an Indian reservation.
Here, in this article, you’ll learn:
- How to find the best paid teaching jobs in Arizona
- Where to find current Arizona teacher openings
- The Arizona teaching requirements
- About Arizona teaching reciprocity, if you’re coming to Arizona from another state
Ready to dive in?
Let’s do it.
But before we do, I recommend bookmarking this page – because you’ll want to come back to it until you secure your teaching job in Arizona!
Reservation Teaching Jobs in Arizona
If you don’t have a ton of time to search the internet, you’re gonna love this database.
We have this massive, ever-growing list of teaching jobs on Indian reservations across the United States.
This includes teaching jobs in Arizona!
And, these tend to be the best paid teaching jobs in Arizona.
It’s not uncommon to get a starting salary of $80,000, depending on the reservation.
You can even filter by salary, benefits, state, and whether or not affordable housing is offered.
And we’re talking REALLY affordable housing.
Like under $300, $400, or $500 a month!! For a whole house!
Click here to access the free database.

Introduction
Job searching is often a chicken-and-egg scenario.
You need to know where you’ll be living to look for jobs – but, it’s hard to look for jobs when you don’t know where you’ll be living!
So before you get to the job lists, have a think on where in Arizona you’d like to live.
Do you want to live in a major metropolitan area, like Phoenix?
Or do you want to live in a small, rural, mountain town – like Show Low?
Do you want the quintessential, saguaro sunsets in Tucson?
Or would you rather have snow and a spruce trees in Greer?
Whatever you like best, it’s good to have an idea before you spend too much time looking at jobs.
Arizona is a diverse state!
Take a second now to really think ab out what you’d prefer.
Do you have an idea now?
Ok, let’s talk about a few more important things before I take you to the jobs.
How to Find the Best Paid Teaching Jobs in Arizona
When you’re looking at Arizona teacher openings, it’s a good idea to keep salary in mind.
I mean, after all – we’re here for the kids, but money matters too!
Where to Find Current Arizona Teacher Openings
So many teachers make the mistake of going straight to Google.
With positionings opening and closing so quickly, and with teaching jobs being posted and managed across various sites, what you find on Google can actually be outdated.
It’s a good place to start for research – I mean, it’s probably how you ended up here!
But there are better places to look once you’re actually ready to apply.
Here are the best places to find teaching jobs in Arizona:
School District Websites
Go straight to the source!
To help you get started, here’s a table I created that shares names and website links for most public school districts in Arizona.
Note that this may not include public schools on reservations in Arizona.
If you want that, though, click here to grab free access to the database I have!
Master List of School Districts in Arizona
This is why you’ll want to bookmark this page.
On this table, you’ll find an alphabetical list of public school districts in Arizona, with links to the school district websites:
School District Name | Website |
Agua Fria Union High School District | https://www.aguafria.org/ |
Ajo Unified School District | https://www.ajoschools.org/ |
Alhambra Elementary School District | https://www.alhambraesd.org/ |
Amphitheater Unified School District | https://www.amphi.com/ |
Apache Elementary School District | https://www.apachejunctionschooldistrict.org/ |
Ash Fork Joint Unified School District | http://www.afjusd.org/ |
Avondale Elementary School District | https://www.avondale.k12.az.us/ |
Balsz School District | https://www.balsz.org/ |
Benson Unified School District | https://www.bensonsd.k12.az.us/ |
Bisbee Unified School District | https://www.bisbeeunified.org/ |
Blue Ridge Unified School District | https://www.brusd.org/ |
Buckeye Elementary School District | https://www.besd33.org/ |
Buckeye Union High School District | https://www.buhsd.org/ |
Bullhead City Elementary School District | https://www.crsk12.org/ |
Camp Verde Unified School District | https://www.cvusd.k12.az.us/ |
Casa Grande Elementary School District | https://www.cgesd.org/ |
Casa Grande Union High School District | https://www.cguhsd.org/ |
Catalina Foothills Unified School District | https://www.cfsd16.org/ |
Cave Creek Unified School District | https://www.ccusd93.org/ |
Chandler Unified School District | https://www.cusd80.com/ |
Chino Valley Unified School District | https://www.chinovalleyschools.com/ |
Clarkdale-Jerome School District | https://www.cjsd.k12.az.us/ |
Claypool Elementary School District | https://www.haydenschools.org/ |
Congress Elementary School District | https://www.congressdistrict.org/ |
Coolidge Unified School District | https://www.coolidgeschools.org/ |
Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary School District | https://www.cocsd.us/ |
Crane Elementary School District | https://www.craneschools.org/ |
Crown King Elementary School District | http://crownkingschool.com/ |
Deer Valley Unified School District | https://www.dvusd.org/ |
Douglas Unified School District | https://www.dusd.k12.az.us/ |
Dysart Unified School District | https://www.dysart.org/ |
East Valley Institute of Technology | https://www.evit.com/ |
Eden Elementary School District | http://www.edenschool.org/ |
Ehrenberg Elementary School District | https://www.ehrenbergschool.org/ |
Elfrida Elementary School District | https://www.elfridaschools.org/ |
Eloy Elementary School District | https://www.eloyesd.net/ |
Flagstaff Unified School District | https://www.fusd1.org/ |
Florence Unified School District | https://www.fusdaz.com/ |
Flowing Wells Unified School District | https://www.flowingwellsschools.org/ |
Fort Huachuca Accommodation School District | https://www.fthuachuca.k12.az.us/ |
Gadsden Elementary School District | https://www.gesd32.org/ |
Ganado Unified School District | http://www.ganado.k12.az.us/ |
Gilbert Public Schools | https://www.gilbertschools.net/ |
Glendale Elementary School District | https://gesd40.org/ |
Glendale Union High School District | https://www.guhsdaz.org/ |
Globe Unified School District | https://www.globeschools.org/ |
Higley Unified School District | https://www.husd.org/ |
Isaac Elementary School District | https://www.isaacschools.org/ |
J.O. Combs Unified School District | https://www.jocombs.org/ |
Joseph City Unified School District | https://www.jcusd.org/ |
oe City Unified School District | https://www.joecityschools.org/ |
Kayenta Unified School District | https://www.kayenta.k12.az.us/ |
Kingman Unified School District | https://www.kusd.org/ |
Kirkland Elementary School District | https://www.kirklandaz.org/ |
Kyrene Elementary School District | https://www.kyrene.org/ |
Lake Havasu Unified School District | https://www.havasu.k12.az.us/ |
Liberty Elementary School District | https://liberty.k12.az.us/ |
Litchfield Elementary School District | https://lesd79.org/ |
Littlefield Unified School District | https://littlefield.k12.az.us/ |
Madison Elementary School District | http://www.madisonaz.org/ |
Mammoth-San Manuel Unified School District | https://www.msmusd.org/ |
Marana Unified School District | https://www.maranausd.org/ |
Mayer Unified School District | https://www.mayerschools.org/ |
McNeal Elementary School District | https://www.mcnealbroncos.org/ |
Mesa Public Schools | https://www.mpsaz.org/ |
Murphy Elementary School District | http://www.murphyelementary.org/ |
Nadaburg Unified School District | https://www.nadaburgsd.org/ |
Nogales Unified School District | https://www.nusd.k12.az.us/ |
Oracle Elementary School District | https://www.osd2.org/ |
Osborn Elementary School District | https://osborn.greatheartsamerica.org/ |
Overgaard-Heber Unified School District | https://www.mogollonrimnews.com/schools/overgaard-heber-unified-school-district/ |
Page Unified School District | https://www.pageud.org/ |
Palominas Elementary School District | https://www.palominas.org/ |
Paradise Valley Unified School District | https://www.pvschools.net/ |
Parker Unified School District | https://www.parkerusd.org/ |
Patagonia Elementary School District | https://www.patagonia.k12.az.us/ |
Payson Unified School District | https://www.pusd10.org/ |
Peach Springs Unified School District | https://www.peachsprings.k12.az.us/ |
Pearce Elementary School District | http://www.pearceschool.org/ |
Peoria Unified School District | https://www.peoriaunified.org/ |
Phoenix Elementary School District | https://www.phxschools.org/ |
Phoenix Union High School District | https://www.phoenixunion.org/ |
Pima Unified School District | https://www.pimaschools.org/ |
Pine-Strawberry Elementary School District | https://www.pineesd.org/ |
Pinnacle Education | https://www.pinnacleeducation.org/ |
Prescott Unified School District | https://www.prescottschools.com/ |
Queen Creek Unified School District | https://qcusd.org/ |
Red Mesa Unified School District | https://www.redmesaschools.org/ |
Red Rock Elementary School District | https://www.redrock.k12.az.us/ |
Riverside Elementary School District | http://www.riverside.k12.az.us/ |
Roosevelt Elementary School District | https://www.roosevelt.k12.az.us/ |
Round Valley Unified School District | https://www.rvusd.org/ |
Sacaton Elementary School District | https://www.sacatonschools.org/ |
Saddle Mountain Unified School District | https://www.smusd90.org/ |
Sahuarita Unified School District | https://www.susd30.us/ |
Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District | https://www.scv35.org/ |
Scottsdale Unified School District | https://www.susd.org/ |
Sedona-Oak Creek Joint Unified School District | https://www.sedonak12.org/ |
Seligman Unified School District | https://www.seligmanusd40.org/ |
Sentinel Elementary School District | https://www.sentinelcsd.org/ |
Show Low Unified School District | https://www.showlow.education/ |
Sierra Vista Unified School District | https://www.svusd68.org/ |
Skull Valley Elementary School District | http://www.skullvalleyschool.org/ |
Snowflake Unified School District | https://www.snowflake.k12.az.us/ |
Solomon Elementary School District | https://www.solomon.k12.az.us/ |
Somerton Elementary School District | https://www.ssd11.org/ |
Sonoita Elementary School District | https://www.sonoitaelementary.org/ |
Stanfield Elementary School District | https://www.stanfield.k12.az.us/ |
Superior Unified School District | https://www.superior.k12.az.us/ |
Tanque Verde | https://www.tanqueverdeschools.org/ |
Tempe | https://www.tempeschools.org/ |
Thatcher | https://www.thatcherud.org/ |
Tolleson | https://www.tuhsd.org/ |
Tombstone | https://www.tombstonek12.org/ |
Tuba City | https://www.tcsosd.org/ |
Tucson | https://www.tusd1.org/ |
Vail | https://www.vailschooldistrict.org/ |
Valley Union | https://www.vusd48.org/ |
Wenden | https://www.salome.k12.az.us/ |
Whiteriver | https://www.wm.k12.az.us/ |
Window Rock | https://www.wrschool.net/ |
Winslow | https://www.wusd1.org/ |
Young | https://www.ycusd.org/ |
Yuma | https://www.yuma.org/ |

I’ve lived in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Whiteriver, and Tucson.
Every city is so different – so think about where you’d like to live before you apply to a million jobs!
Networking With Current Employees
The best way to get on-the-ground info about the schools and districts you’re applying to, is to talk with teachers who are already working there.
And it’s not only beneficial for getting good info.
Once you’re ready to apply to teaching jobs in Arizona, you can connect with these same contacts to become your referrers and references.
That said, you always want to connect with people in authentic way.
Nobody likes feeling used!
But networking is a legitimate way to discover, find, and apply for jobs.
Here are the best places to get feedback about schools and districts in Arizona:
If you’re not already active on LinkedIn, you’ll definitely want to start building a presence there.
It helps you look more professional and established when you’re applying to jobs, and you can even get discovered by employers who are looking to hire teachers with your skills.
I’ve linked my profile on LinkedIn so we can connect.
This will be especially helpful if you’re looking for reservation teaching jobs in Arizona!
I’m not gonna lie, Reddit can be like this vortex that sucks you in.
And on its worst days, it’s a cesspool of negativity that’s hard to escape from.
But there are two things that make Reddit a great source of information:
- It’s usually anonymous, and
- Whatever question you have, someone else has probably already asked it
In fact, I’ve found answers to many questions I’ve had just by searching old forums.
This blog post lists links to the best Reddit boards for teachers.
I also recommend following these boards:
Facebook Groups
You can find some incredible connections in the best Facebook Groups!
I’ve linked mine above. It’s a great, free community for you if you think you might like to teach on a reservation.
But if you’re looking for other Arizona teaching jobs, these are the best Facebook Groups to join:
Professional Organizations
The state of Arizona doesn’t have unions like other states.
However, there are several professional organizations that serve teachers in Arizona.
Here are a few really good ones to bookmark:
- Arizona Education Association
- Arizona Professional Educators
- Arizona K12 Center (really good PD opportunities)
Trustworthy Websites
Arizona State Department of Arizona Teacher Openings
Find out about teaching jobs in Arizona straight from the source.
This is a great program if you didn’t go the traditional route.
They show you exactly how to become a teacher in Arizona.
Teaching Arizona
You can find an updated job board right on the home page of their website!
Arizona Teaching Requirements
Becoming a certified teacher in Arizona might seem daunting, but it’s totally doable with the right information and preparation.
If you’ve recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education, or if you currently teach in a state that has reciprocity with Arizona, then you’ll have most of what you need already.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 years of teaching experience
Note that you can do an alternative pathway to certification program if you have no prior teaching experience.
This allows you to teach full-time in the classroom while pursuing your certification.
There are a few programs that allow you to do this. I did the Rio Salado Teacher in Residence program.
You can read more about my experience with that here. - Board-approve coursework and/or degrees
This includes whatever subject you’re teaching, plus training in a few other areas relating to students with exceptionalities, pedagogy, classroom management, and instructional design, among other things
Next, you’ll need to pass the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) exam.
It’s divided into two parts: a professional knowledge exam and a subject knowledge exam.
These tests will evaluate your general teaching skills and knowledge of the subject area you want to teach. But don’t stress too much – with some studying and practice, you’ll be ready to ace those exams.
Finally, you’ll need to complete a fingerprint clearance card, undergo a criminal background check, and submit an application for certification to the Arizona Department of Education.
And voila – you’ll be a certified Arizona teacher, ready to apply for basically any teaching job in Arizona. J
Your certification is valid for six years, and you’ll need to complete continuing education requirements to renew it.
Most schools offer continuing education units through professional development programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
After reading this blog post, you should know how to become a teacher in Arizona, and where you can find the best jobs.
But you might still have some questions!
These are some of the most frequently asked questions from people looking to teach in Arizona.
Are Teachers in Demand in Arizona?
The short answer: yes!
There’s actually been a teacher shortage in the state of Arizona for several years now.
This makes it pretty easy for teachers to find jobs – even if you’re new, from out of state, or even if you’re from another country!
The demand for teachers in Arizona can vary depending on the subject and location, but in general, there’s a need across the board.
With a growing population and a constant need for education, the job market for teachers in Arizona is booming.
Arizona offers a ton of support to teachers, too.
Of course, every state has its own unique challenges and opportunities, but as far as the demand for teachers goes, Arizona is definitely a state to keep on your radar.
How Much Do Teachers Get Paid in Arizona?
Most data online will show that the average teacher salary in Arizona is around $50,000 per year.
But I’ve found this to be pretty inaccurate.
Remember – an average is the mean of all salaries considered in a dataset!
So while the “average” of all salaries comes close to $50,000, the typical, starting salary in Arizona is much lower (closer to a range of $30-$40k).
Of course, this can vary depending on factors like experience level, education, and specific location.
Teachers on Indian reservations in Arizona tend to get paid more (click here to access a free database for those jobs!).
Arizona always ranks towards the bottom in teacher pay.
But thankfully, the cost of living is still much lower than neighboring states (at least, for now!).
Is Arizona a Good Place to Teach?
The state has a lot to offer teachers, with great weather, stunning landscapes, and a low cost of living.
However, as mentioned above, teaching salaries in Arizona are generally lower than in other states, and teacher turnover rates can be quite high.
And there are always concerns over funding and resources for the state
That being said, there are still many great opportunities for teachers to make a positive impact in Arizona classrooms and communities.
It always comes down to personal preferences and needs.
If you love the lifestyle and the weather, and you’re able and willing to make less than you might elsewhere, then it can be a great fit!
What Are the Requirements to Teach in Arizona?
I go a bit more into this earlier on in the article, so you can scroll up if you want details.
But here’s the quick, TLDR version:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program
- Passing scores on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) or equivalent exams
- Fingerprint clearance and background check
- Arizona teaching certificate or alternative certification through Arizona Department of Education
- Continuing education to maintain certification and stay up-to-date with teaching practices
Is the Arizona Teacher Salary Worth It?
This is such a hard and personal question.
For me, it was definitely worth living and teaching on a reservation for a few years while we saved money, gained experience, and built up professional experience.
I ultimately left the classroom to pursue blogging and freelancing full-time, but I know many teachers who are still happy in Arizona classrooms!
Are There Online Teaching Jobs in Arizona?
Yes there are!
Here’s a list of online schools in Arizona that hire teachers:
- Arizona Connections Academy – https://www.connectionsacademy.com/arizona-virtual-school
- Arizona Virtual Academy – https://azva.k12.com/
- Great Hearts Online – https://greatheartsonline.org/
- Insight Academy of Arizona – https://az.insightschools.net/
- Primavera Online High School – https://www.primavera-online-high-school.com/
- Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning – https://www.sequoiachoice.org/
- South Pointe Junior High School – https://southpointejhs.susd.org/
- University High School Online – https://uhsportal.susd.org/
Conclusion
How are you feeling about your job search?
I know you were looking for teaching jobs in Arizona – and hopefully, you found much more by stumbling upon this blog post.
I write about living and teaching on a reservation, so I definitely think that’s a beautiful option for you to consider.
But even if you don’t do that, I think you’ll find this helpful as you search for teaching jobs in Arizona.
Best of luck in your search!
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