How to hire an abstracter

How to hire an abstracter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step abstracter hiring guide:

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

Post an abstracter job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your abstracter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an abstracter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect abstracter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of abstracters.

   Type of Abstracter	Description	Hourly rate
   Abstracter		$16-42
   Title Processor	A title processor is a legal professional who works with clients applying for real estate title to ensure that all documents are submitted correctly. Title processors are required to compile all the necessary legal documents and information so that they can obtain the legal deed to the property... Show more	$14-27
   Title Investigator	The Title Investigators' primary duties include searching real estate records, examining titles, or summarizing insurance or legal documents for various purposes. Also, they provide resolution to internal investigations using interrogation or interviewing techniques.	$13-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • HEDIS
   • Real Property
   • Real Estate Transactions
   • Patient Charts

   Responsibilities:

   • Prepare HUD settlement statements for both refinance and purchase transactions.
   • Complete comprehensive and thorough medical chart review to extract medical record data per NCQA specifications for health plan's HEDIS project.
   • Research probate records, marriage records, death records, taxes, and liens.
   • Research include reviewing successions, conveyance records, civil suits, probates and mortgages.
   • Travele into the field and visit Medicaid patients for recruitment into health homes program.
   • Perform UCC searches on personal property for corporations or individuals that are secure by a financial institute.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, abstracters' average salary in georgia is 40% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level abstracters 60% less than senior-level abstracters.
   • Certifications. An abstracter 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 an abstracter's salary.

   Average abstracter salary

   $56,124yearly

   $26.98 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level abstracter salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing an abstracter job description

   An abstracter 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 an abstracter job description:

   Abstracter job description example

   We are in need of a high-performing Clinical Data Abstractor who will be responsible for the abstraction, analysis, investigation, reporting, and follow-up of data for the tumor registry at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.
   Job Responsibilities:
   Case Finding : Completes daily analysis of medical records for oncology patients and determines eligibility for case reporting. Maintains automated suspense listing of cases to be coded and abstracted. Abstracting: Applies abstracting and coding knowledge as well as communicates effectively with medical staff in order to determine accurate assignment of codes for diagnosis, severity of illness, procedure and treatment, and outcome measures. Treatment Collection/Follow-up: Obtain recurrence, subsequent treatment, and outcome information from internal and external sources at least annually for each oncology patient in the registry and updates the record in the database. Participation in professional organizations and continuing education activities Other duties as assigned
   
   Job Requirements:
   High school diploma required Two (2) years experience in clinical data abstraction and coding; or 3-5 years experience as a healthcare professional CTR or RHIT certification is highly preferred Knowledge of ICD-O coding, anatomy, physiology, SEER, AJCC, Collaborative Staging, medical terminology, Working knowledge of Windows, Word, Excel, Access, and Cancer Registry Software Prior experience in the use of EPIC electronic medical record system is preferable Prior experience in the use of Oncolog tumor registry system is preferable)
   
   Additional Requirements:
   Must obtain CTR credential within 3 years of hire. The opportunity to work remotely becomes available upon certification.
   
   Other:
   Must have excellent verbal and written skills, organizational skills, and detail-oriented. Must be able to work independently and as a team. Must have proactive and clear communication skills with team members and leadership Must have the ability to build relationships that promote a collaborative environment Must be accountable for personal performance and professional growth Must have the ability to initiate improvement activities that foster good peer, patient, and physician experiences Must be proactively engaged and eager to be a part of a winning team
   
   Methodist Dallas Medical Center is one of North Texas' best places to work. And it just gets better. Magnet® designated for nursing excellence and the flagship hospital of Methodist Health System, Methodist Dallas is a 556-bed teaching and referral hospital and home to one of only three adult Level I Trauma Centers in Dallas County. We are a certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and have highly rated adult liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant programs. Celebrating more than 90 years of service, Methodist Dallas strives to have a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve - one that is welcoming of the skills and talents of all groups. Our reputation as an award-winning employer shows in the honors we've earned:
   
   Magnet®-designated hospital Grade A Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog Group® First in the U.S. certified by The Joint Commission for pancreatic surgery and pancreatitis First in Texas certified for pancreatic cancer Hip and knee joint replacement programs certified by The Joint Commission Chest Pain - MI Registry™ Platinum Performance Achievement Award by the American College of Cardiology for excellence in heart attack care
   
   Our Care Commitments
   Take Care of Patients Take Care of Each Other Take Care of Ourselves Take Care of Methodist

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find abstracters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any abstracters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level abstracters with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your abstracter job on Zippia to find and recruit abstracter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with abstracter candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 abstracter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the abstracter 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.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new abstracter. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an abstracter?