How to hire a cataloger

How to hire a cataloger, step by step

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

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

Post a cataloger job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The cataloger hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A cataloger's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, catalogers 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 shows salaries for various types of catalogers.

   Type of Cataloger	Description	Hourly rate
   Cataloger	Librarians help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. Their job duties may change based on the type of library they work in, such as public, school, and medical libraries.	$11-25
   Instruction Librarian	The primary role of an instruction librarian is to create educational experiences. Instruction librarians design instructional materials and develop learning objects, assessment tools, and learning outcomes in different learning environments... Show more	$16-34
   Reference Librarian	Being a reference librarian requires good people skills, knowledge in their respective fields, and good teaching ability to handle the varied responsibilities. Job duties include the interpretation, recommendation, evaluation, and use of information resources in order to assist library patrons with their respective information requirements... Show more	$16-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Library Catalog
   • RDA
   • Cataloging
   • OCLC
   • Online Database
   • Lcsh
   • Marc
   • ILS
   • Subject Headings
   • Library Materials
   • Library System
   • Rare Books
   • Database Management
   • Classification Numbers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage category of materials: including books, CDs, films and other documents.
   • Assign subject headings using LCSH.
   • Cataloge books and serials for all the school district libraries.
   • Master the use of cataloguing resources such as WorldCat and HomeBase.
   • Assist librarians in other EPA libraries with the conversion of their serials list.
   • Assign LCSH and LCC, as well as a local classification system for legal treatises.

   More cataloger duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the cataloger job description is a good way to get more applicants. A cataloger 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 cataloger in Arizona may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level cataloger. Additionally, a cataloger with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average cataloger salary

   $16.80hourly

   $34,943 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cataloger salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 12, 2025

   Average cataloger salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$40,482	$19
   2	Minnesota	$40,126	$19
   3	Virginia	$38,779	$19
   4	Massachusetts	$37,895	$18
   5	District of Columbia	$36,928	$18
   6	California	$35,286	$17
   7	Indiana	$31,255	$15
   8	Utah	$30,008	$14
   9	Washington	$29,004	$14
   10	Oregon	$28,995	$14
   11	Nevada	$28,808	$14
   12	Ohio	$27,329	$13
   13	Texas	$27,121	$13
   14	North Carolina	$26,587	$13
   15	Tennessee	$25,470	$12
   16	Arizona	$24,584	$12
   17	Florida	$24,269	$12
   18	Colorado	$24,104	$12

   Average cataloger salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Harvard University	$84,829	$40.78
   2	StorageCraft	$78,139	$37.57
   3	Yale University	$71,060	$34.16	1
   4	Princeton University	$64,064	$30.80
   5	The University of Texas at San Antonio	$50,669	$24.36
   6	BAE Systems	$48,981	$23.55
   7	Target	$40,137	$19.30
   8	Amazon	$38,623	$18.57
   9	MORI Associates	$38,582	$18.55
   10	Buncombe County Government	$38,027	$18.28
   11	University of Virginia	$37,246	$17.91	2
   12	Goodreads	$36,634	$17.61
   13	Neubus	$36,394	$17.50
   14	The Book Arts Press Inc	$36,176	$17.39
   15	Everything But The House (ebth)	$36,045	$17.33
   16	Househappy	$36,045	$17.33
   17	Viagogo	$35,421	$17.03
   18	Ingram Book Group Inc	$31,090	$14.95
   19	Baker & Taylor	$31,028	$14.92
   20	University of Florida	$29,708	$14.28

4. Writing a cataloger job description

   A cataloger 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 cataloger job description:

   Cataloger job description example

   OUR STORY AND HOW YOU CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE
   
   Everything But The House (EBTH) is a revolutionary marketplace, making it easier to find or sell secondhand goods, headquartered in Cincinnati, OH. EBTH was born out of a passion for helping people via a full-service approach to consignment; revolutionizing how homeowners, estate managers, dealers and collectors connect with a world of shoppers seeking rare and wonderful things. Each day the global auction platform unleashes an ever-changing assortment of art, jewelry, fashion, collectibles, antiques and more, all with a starting bid of $1.
   
   EBTH aspires to be the first stop for secondhand online. We stand behind our work and offer every customer the "Uncommon Promise". If we don't uphold our end of the bargain, we'll do our best to make it right. We promise that everything on our platform is authenticated or validated, presented clearly and accurately, and is handled with the utmost care.
   
   We're seeking a Jewelry Cataloger who will promote consignment and estate sale jewelry by processing listings to be concise and accurate for auction presentation across all EBTH platforms.
   
   This position is in anticipation of more growth and is an evergreen position. As such, the timeline to hire is unknown and will be as needed. If you are interested in this type of work we encourage you to apply and we will reach out when we are ready to move forward.
   
   As a dynamic company, we move fast and seek to continuously improve - and while this will be a very demanding position, you'll be surrounded by a passionate team of individuals who are dedicated to the common goal of drastically changing the way personal property is sold, bought and moved across the country - and we have a lot of fun while we're doing it. We're proud of our journey and we're eager to share our story with shoppers, clients and consignors across the world!
   
   Discover everything uncommon at EBTH.COM.
   
   TASKS YOU'LL BE JUGGLING
   
   * Assist in research using the internet, reference materials, expert contacts, and other resources.
   * Help to present lots of Jewelry in an appealing, informative, concise, and historically accurate manner.
   * Accurately and efficiently enter data and utilize all databases..
   * Minimize customer dissatisfaction and returns by providing accurate item descriptions.
   * Communicate with internal and external customers for the best possible item presentation.
   * Ensure disclaimers are present on all items requiring additional terms or conditions.
   * Work in conjunction with team members across the department in order to maximize throughput and timeliness.
   * Mitigate description credit errors, working with the Editing Department for continuous improvement.
   * Help to maintain a team culture of open and positive communication.
   * Perform other duties as assigned.
   * Maintain a clean and organized work space.
   
   CREDENTIALS WE ARE SEEKING
   
   * High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
   * Technical proficiency: Familiarity with the online processing systems, Google suite, web searches, and Microsoft Office software.
   * Recognized ability to effectively communicate via email, phone, and in person within and across teams.
   * Drive! This business is fast-paced and challenging. A self-starter is a must!
   * A team player mentality with an ability to work independently.
   * Reliable transportation.
   * Ability to maintain a set production schedule to align with business needs, while being willing to work flexible hours including nights and weekends if business needs require.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.
   
   Applicants must be authorized to work lawfully in the United States for EBTH. EBTH does not provide sponsorship at this time.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right cataloger 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 catalogers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit catalogers 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 cataloger job on Zippia to find and recruit cataloger candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with cataloger 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 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 cataloger

   Once you have selected a candidate for the cataloger 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new cataloger. 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 a cataloger?