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How to hire a college assistant

College assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring college assistants in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a college assistant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new college assistant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a college assistant, step by step

To hire a college assistant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a college assistant:

Here's a step-by-step college assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a college assistant do?

A college assistant is responsible for administrative, clerical, and research work in educational institutions. Your day-to-day duties may vary but typically include answering telephone calls, maintaining records such as rosters and inventory control records, and ordering office supplies and equipment. In addition, you will be responsible for assisting in research activities by collecting and compiling data, performing data entry, and preparing reports. Other duties include providing assistance in instructional programs, processing expenses, and purchasing reports, and advertising various events through social media.

Learn more about the specifics of what a college assistant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the college assistant you need to hire. Certain college assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a college assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a college assistant that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of college assistants and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of College AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    College AssistantSecretaries and administrative assistants perform clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff.$11-18
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Cleanliness
    • English Language
    • Customer Service
    • Data Entry
    • Mathematics
    • Windows
    • Computer Software
    • Office Machines
    • Telephone Calls
    • Electronic Equipment
    • Library System
    • Financial Aid Applications
    • Code Data
    • Computer Entry
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
    • Create PowerPoint presentations for various events as needed.
    • Design PowerPoint presentations for recruitment events, college fairs, and information sessions.
    • Assist children with mild disabilities on their spelling, math, and reading homework
    • Join new PCs to a Microsoft windows domain environment, imaging computers to school standard.
    • Tutor students with diverse mathematical abilities in various undergraduate math courses
    More college assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    Average college assistant salary

    $14.37hourly

    $29,899 yearly

    Entry-level college assistant salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 14, 2026

    Average college assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Connecticut$37,971$18
    2Washington$34,371$17
    3Massachusetts$32,184$15
    4Michigan$31,732$15
    5California$29,197$14
    6New York$28,669$14
    7Illinois$28,155$14
    8Colorado$27,964$13
    9Maryland$27,610$13
    10Pennsylvania$27,169$13
    11Alabama$25,697$12
    12South Carolina$24,326$12
    13Idaho$23,055$11

    Average college assistant salary by company

  4. Writing a college assistant job description

    A good college assistant job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a college assistant job description:

    College assistant job description example

    COLLEGE BURSAR ASSISTANT I

    DALEY COLLEGE

    Richard J. Daley College is located on the southwest side of Chicago. As a City College of Chicago, Daley College offers accessible and affordable opportunities for academic advancement, career development, and personal enrichment.

    Primary Objective:

    Responsible for receiving and processing tuition payments at the cash terminal and assist with student inquiries regarding their accounts.

    DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
    • Receives, verifies, and processes cash deposits, tuition payments, and payments of other bills. Prepares the daily bank deposits for armor pick-up.
    • Prepares daily cash reports and log sheets for accounts payable.
    • Reviews, verifies, and processes vouchers, accepts and disburses funds in accordance with procedural guidelines.
    • Matches invoices to purchase orders and requests updates as needed. Reviews vendor accounts.
    • Prepares expense report as needed on vendor budgets and researches outstanding accounts. Contacts vendors for outstanding invoices, order updates and other inquiries.
    • Processes registration transactions and assists in student registration activities.
    • Processes third party transactions.
    • Balances daily cash transactions and cashes petty cash warrants.
    • Assists students with inquiries regarding their accounts. Reviews system to assess. Match exceptions and problem resolution.
    • Assists with data for preparing reports.
    • Assists in student registration activities.
    • Adheres to CCC Customer Service Excellence Standards.
    • Performs related duties as required.

    QUALIFICATIONS:
    • Associates Degree is required; supplemented by 2 years of cash handling and accurate record of cash balancing; or an equivalent combination of training or experience.
    • Good knowledge of basic accounting principles and techniques. Good knowledge of accounting and auditing terminology. Some knowledge of accounting software a plus.
    • Ability to prepare and maintain accounting records. Ability to write simple financial statements and reports. Ability to supervise work of student assistants.
    • Good organizational skills. Good verbal and written communication skills. Basic computer skills required.

    Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long term savings and investment programs including 403(b) & 457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University Retirement System (SURS) Plan. Generous vacation, holiday, personal and sick days, and tuition reimbursement. For a more detailed overview of benefits, please visit the benefits page of our website.

    Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6 months of hire.

    We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

    Thank you for your interest in CCC!


    TBD
  5. Post your job

    To find college assistants 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 college assistants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level college assistants 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 college assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit college assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit college assistants, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 college assistant

    Once you've decided on a perfect college assistant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new college assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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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How much does it cost to hire a college assistant?

Hiring a college assistant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting college assistants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of college assistant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for college assistants is $29,899 in the US. However, the cost of college assistant hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a college assistant for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $11 and $18 an hour.

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