How to hire a contract clerk

How to hire a contract clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step contract clerk hiring guide:

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

Post a contract clerk job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your contract clerk 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 a contract clerk 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a contract clerk 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 contract clerk that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of contract clerks.

   Type of Contract Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Contract Clerk	General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.	$13-23
   Clerk Typist	A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients... Show more	$12-18
   Accounts Receivable Clerk	An Accounts Receivable Clerk specializes in processing payment records and bill statements of a company or organization. Among the duties include calculating total revenues and unpaid invoices, maintaining financial records and keeping a detailed and organized database, and verifying financial transactions and payment delinquencies... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DMV
   • Data Entry
   • Vehicle Sales
   • Payoff Checks
   • Payroll
   • Financial Institutions
   • Computer System
   • Car Deals
   • ADP
   • Clean Schedules
   • Dealer Trades
   • Sales Tax
   • Service Contracts
   • Sales Contracts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
   • Process paperwork for car deals and prepare DMV paperwork for new purchase and trade ins.
   • Fax and/or mail hard copy of application to participating HMO's.
   • Communicate with finance institutions and report sales to DMV, and registration of vehicles.
   • Enter salesman commission into general system and post to payroll ledger bi-monthly.
   • Maintain patient medications in a secure environment inventory and record all incoming medications to maintain patient confidentiality per HIPPA requirements.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, contract clerks' average salary in new mexico is 40% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level contract clerks earn 40% less than senior-level contract clerks.
   • Certifications. A contract clerk 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 contract clerk's salary.

   Average contract clerk salary

   $38,001yearly

   $18.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level contract clerk salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing a contract clerk job description

   A job description for a contract clerk role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a contract clerk job description:

   Contract clerk job description example

   Representing the Nation's #1 Mercedes-Benz and Audi Dealers, Fletcher Jones Management - Regional Business Office in Ontario is searching for the best to join our team!
   
   We are building a team of passionate, committed individuals who each play a vital role in our Business Office. Fletcher Jones Management's Regional Business Office is looking for a New & Used Car Contract Clerk to work Full-Time and add to our growing team.
   
   This opportunity has great potential for advancement in the future for the right person. If you are looking for a CAREER and want to be part of something bigger, we would love to hear from you.
   
   The New & Used Car Contract Clerk is responsible for obtaining, completing and processing Retail deals.
   Health/Life & Disability Benefits
   Group Health Plan Voluntary Insurance Employer Assistance Program Flexible Spending Account Plan
   Benefits for Every Day
   Payroll Direct Deposit
   Benefits for Tomorrow
   Paid Holidays Vacation Paid Sick time 401K Retirement Plan
   Responsibilities
   Bill all new and used car deals and post into accounting Organize all paperwork in each deal, check for accuracy and completeness Process pay-off checks for trade-ins and mail to appropriate financial institution Generate and maintain commission reports Route paid deals to the title clerk as soon as money is received Provide administrative support to management and other departments as needed
   Qualifications
   Ability to handle multiple tasks Good social and interpersonal skills Collaborative and eagerness to improve Professional personal appearance
   We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find contract clerks for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit contract clerks, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 contract clerk

   Once you've found the contract clerk candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 contract clerk?