How to hire a cancer registrar

How to hire a cancer registrar, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cancer registrar hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a cancer registrar, 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

   A cancer registrar's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cancer registrars from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents cancer registrar salaries for various positions.

   Type of Cancer Registrar	Description	Hourly rate
   Cancer Registrar	Medical records and health information technicians, commonly referred to as health information technicians, organize and manage health information data. They ensure its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper and electronic systems... Show more	$15-34
   Health Information Technician	A health information technician is primarily responsible for managing and handling patient information, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. They coordinate with various health care workers to gather patient data, laboratory results, test findings, and medical histories, encoding them in clinical databases in a timely and efficient manner... Show more	$12-21
   Medical Service Technician	A medical service technician provides health care and treatments to patients under the supervision or directives of a more experienced physician. Most of their responsibilities revolve around assessing a patient's condition, administering required aid, diagnosing patients, conducting check-ups, and counseling patients... Show more	$11-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • CTR
   • Medical Terminology
   • Abstracts
   • Data Collection
   • COC
   • Registrars
   • ACOS
   • Data Entry
   • Seer
   • Pathology Reports
   • State Cancer
   • Epic
   • Cancer Program

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Process release of information requests according to HIPAA regulations and manage valuables safe for entire facility.
   • Assign TNM and AJCC staging codes to newly diagnose cancer patents.
   • Provide coordination of cancer committee require by ACOS to meet accreditation standards.
   • Work for DHMC for this time period helping DHMC get up to date w cancer abstracts and the NH state cancer registry
   • Obtain patient insurance information and forward to business department for approval of out-patient surgery.
   • Train new employees and registrars.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cancer registrar job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A cancer registrar salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, cancer registrars' average salary in arkansas is 43% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cancer registrars earn 54% less than senior-level cancer registrars.
   • Certifications. A cancer registrar with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a cancer registrar's salary.

   Average cancer registrar salary

   $49,393yearly

   $23.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cancer registrar salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a cancer registrar job description

   A cancer registrar 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a cancer registrar job description:

   Cancer registrar job description example

   This is a full-time, 1.0 FTE position that is scheduled to work Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department. This position is remote.

   Be part of something remarkable

   Join the #1 hospital in Wisconsin!

   We are seeking a Cancer Registrar to:

   • Interpret complex medical information in electronic medical records to support critical program activities including direct patient care, regulatory and accreditation requirements.
   • Responsible for data collection, entry, and submission, report preparation, and data sharing for process improvement initiatives, benchmarking and outcomes research.

   Education :

   Minimum - Associate's degree in Cancer Information Management (CIM). Three (3) years of cancer data abstraction experience may be considered in lieu of degree in addition to experience below.

   Work Experience :

   Minimum - One (1) year of healthcare experience involving medical terminology, cancer data abstraction or a cancer related field.

   Preferred - Three (3) years of healthcare experience involving medical terminology, cancer data abstraction or a cancer related field.

   Licenses and Certifications :

   Minimum - Certification as Tumor Registrar within 18 months of start date

   Preferred - Certified Tumor Registrar

   Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

   UW Health is committed to being a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist workplace and is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Our integrity shines through in patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. Applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, LGBTQ+ and non-binary identities, women, persons with disabilities, military service members and veterans are strongly encouraged. EOE, including disability/veterans.

   View Full Job Description

   UW Hospital and Clinics benefits

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right cancer registrar 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 cancer registrar job on Zippia to find and recruit cancer registrar candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit cancer registrars, 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 cancer registrar

   Once you have selected a candidate for the cancer registrar 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

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