Pottery Instructor Jobs
Pottery Instructor jobs are open across community arts centers, K-12 schools, colleges, and private studios, at every level from part-time beginner instructor to full-time senior faculty, with specializations in wheel throwing, hand-building, and glaze chemistry. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Ceramics / Pottery Instructor — Part-Time
About Ashcan Clay
Ashcan Clay provides a welcoming, creative environment where students can explore ceramics, develop technical skills, and grow in confidence as artists.
We are seeking a passionate and skilled Ceramics / Pottery Instructor to join our team at our Syosset studio. The ideal candidate has strong wheel-throwing skills, enjoys teaching, and brings patience and enthusiasm to the classroom.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Ceramics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Proficiency in wheel-throwing techniques; hand-building experience is a plus.
- Experience teaching teens and/or adults in a studio or classroom setting.
- Strong communication skills and a patient, encouraging teaching approach.
- Reliable, responsible, and able to work well with a team.
- Passion for teaching and helping students develop their creativity.
Schedule
This is a part-time position. Working days and hours will be discussed during the hiring process based on studio needs and instructor availability.
Start Date & Training
The start date will be determined during the hiring process. A 1–2 week paid training period will be provided before beginning teaching duties.
Location
Ashcan Clay — Syosset
140 Jericho Tpke B, Syosset, NY 11791
This is an in-person position.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume along with a portfolio or URL showcasing your work when applying.
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Pay: $20.00 - $35.00 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Please submit your portfolio/ URL when you apply.
Work Location: In person
Ceramics / Pottery Instructor — Part-Time
About Ashcan Clay
Ashcan Clay provides a welcoming, creative environment where students can explore ceramics, develop technical skills, and grow in confidence as artists.
We are seeking a passionate and skilled Ceramics / Pottery Instructor to join our team at our Syosset studio. The ideal candidate has strong wheel-throwing skills, enjoys teaching, and brings patience and enthusiasm to the classroom.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Ceramics, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Proficiency in wheel-throwing techniques; hand-building experience is a plus.
- Experience teaching teens and/or adults in a studio or classroom setting.
- Strong communication skills and a patient, encouraging teaching approach.
- Reliable, responsible, and able to work well with a team.
- Passion for teaching and helping students develop their creativity.
Schedule
This is a part-time position. Working days and hours will be discussed during the hiring process based on studio needs and instructor availability.
Start Date & Training
The start date will be determined during the hiring process. A 1–2 week paid training period will be provided before beginning teaching duties.
Location
Ashcan Clay — Syosset
140 Jericho Tpke B, Syosset, NY 11791
This is an in-person position.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume along with a portfolio or URL showcasing your work when applying.
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Pay: $20.00 - $35.00 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Please submit your portfolio/ URL when you apply.
Work Location: In person
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Find Pottery Instructor JobsPottery Instructor Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in pottery instructor jobs.
- Demonstrated experience teaching wheel throwing and hand-building techniques to students of varying skill levels
- Ability to operate, load, and maintain electric and gas kilns safely
- Bachelor of Fine Arts or Master of Fine Arts in ceramics or a related studio art discipline
- Experience developing age-appropriate or skill-level-appropriate curriculum and lesson plans
- Strong classroom management skills for group studio environments with shared equipment
- Knowledge of glaze chemistry, studio safety protocols, and materials handling procedures
Tips for Your Pottery Instructor Job Search
Tailor your resume to each setting
A community arts center values student retention and class variety, while a college art department weights your MFA and exhibition record. Reframe the same teaching experience to match the hiring context before you apply to each opening.
Build a teaching-focused portfolio
Employers want evidence you can teach, not just make. Include student project photos alongside your own work, sample lesson plans, and syllabi that show progression from beginner to advanced techniques like trimming, firing schedules, and surface decoration.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists pottery instructor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target openings that match your kiln experience
Job listings often specify electric, gas, or wood-fired kiln operation. If a role lists cone 10 reduction firing and your background is cone 6 electric, flag your willingness to cross-train rather than glossing over the gap in your cover letter.
Prepare a demo lesson for the interview
Many studios and schools ask finalists to teach a short demo class to real or simulated beginners. Practice explaining centering clay in plain language, anticipate common student mistakes like uneven pressure, and have a backup plan if the wheel malfunctions.
Negotiate studio access as a benefit
Part-time pottery instructor roles often pay modestly, but personal studio time, kiln access, and a materials allowance add real value. Raise these in the offer conversation rather than focusing only on hourly rate, especially at community arts organizations.
Pottery Instructor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most pottery instructors?
The companies hiring the most pottery instructors right now include Ashcan Studio of Art, Nexplore, and BellyFire Studios, with the largest share of openings in New York, Utah, and Colorado, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Community arts centers, parks and recreation departments, and college art programs consistently make up the largest share of postings.
How many pottery instructor jobs are remote?
About 0% of pottery instructor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of studio teaching. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements are curriculum development roles, online ceramics courses, and arts education program coordination positions that do not require direct kiln supervision.
How do you become a pottery instructor?
Start by developing strong personal proficiency in wheel throwing, hand-building, and kiln operation through formal study or sustained self-directed practice. Earning a BFA or MFA in ceramics strengthens your candidacy for college and university roles. Gain teaching experience through workshops, community classes, or assistant instructor positions, then build a portfolio that documents both your own work and student outcomes to show during interviews.
Can you get hired as a pottery instructor with little or no experience?
Yes, entry-level pottery instructor roles exist, particularly at community recreation centers, children's art studios, and summer camp programs that prioritize enthusiasm and basic technical competency over a formal teaching resume. Volunteering to lead beginner workshops at a local clay studio, assisting an established instructor, or teaching informal sessions at a makerspace gives you documented classroom experience that makes your application competitive for those openings.
What does the pottery instructor interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone or video screen to assess your teaching philosophy and availability, followed by an in-person interview with the studio director, department chair, or program coordinator. Many schools and studios add a practical component where you teach a short demo class or walk the panel through how you would introduce a specific technique to beginners. References from past students or supervising instructors are commonly requested before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to pottery instructor jobs?
You can find and apply to pottery instructor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, setting preference, and availability, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 10 Pottery Instructor Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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