How to hire a data processing clerk

How to hire a data processing clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step data processing 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 data processing clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new data processing clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your data processing 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 data processing 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

   A data processing clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, data processing clerks 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.

   Here's a comparison of data processing clerk salaries for various roles:

   Type of Data Processing Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Data Processing Clerk		$12-18
   Clerk	Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies... Show more	$11-18
   Office Support Clerk	Office support clerks are professionals who provide clerical and administrative duties that support the daily activities of an organization's office setting. These clerks are required to answer incoming calls from clients while maintaining all office and cleaning supplies for the organization... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Processing
   • Data Entry Errors
   • Computer Database
   • Invoice Data
   • Computer System
   • Sales Orders
   • Numeric Data
   • Payroll
   • Financial Data
   • Customer Accounts
   • Customer Orders
   • AS400
   • Detect Errors
   • Word Processing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage daily operations of ACH payments and research errors in different internal and external databases that prevent payments from transferring.
   • Perform DMV and NCIC queries on defendants and petitioners to obtain accurate driver's license and demographic information.
   • Key all labor reports into AS400 system.
   • Input all credit/debit card charges, and check information into QuickBooks.
   • Receive orders from customers, enter billing into AS400 system, and invoice the customer's orders.
   • Verify, update, and enter invoices, credits, vendor information, purchase orders, payroll, and pick tickets.

   More data processing clerk duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average data processing clerk salary

   $15.20hourly

   $31,621 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level data processing clerk salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average data processing clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$33,660	$16
   2	Utah	$31,552	$15
   3	Georgia	$31,365	$15
   4	Minnesota	$30,298	$15
   5	Florida	$28,216	$14
   6	Pennsylvania	$27,124	$13
   7	North Carolina	$26,666	$13
   8	Maryland	$25,968	$12
   9	Oklahoma	$24,815	$12

   Average data processing clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	TPI	$34,496	$16.58	13
   2	Discover	$33,163	$15.94	2
   3	Wells Fargo	$32,857	$15.80	5
   4	Level One Bank	$32,596	$15.67	2
   5	CTG	$32,496	$15.62	27
   6	Kelly Services	$31,073	$14.94	55
   7	Randstad North America, Inc.	$30,900	$14.86	33
   8	CareerBuilder	$30,776	$14.80
   9	Allstate Floral	$30,665	$14.74	2
   10	Robert Half	$30,452	$14.64	829
   11	City of Hope Development Center	$29,867	$14.36

4. Writing a data processing clerk job description

   A good data processing clerk 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 data processing clerk job description:

   Data processing clerk job description example

   The Data Processing Clerk will oversee the computer hardware systems, which may include both mainframe and personal computer network operations. They load equipment with paper, labels or other materials as needed allowing them to release, print and distribute various jobs. They trouble shoot minor system issues, order supplies and schedule equipment maintenance. They will also perform data entry and various other clerical duties. The duties should be completed in accordance with True Value standard procedures and in support of facility operating needs.
   Scheduled Days: Monday through Friday
   
   Scheduled Hours: 12:30pm to 8pm
   
   Benefits: True Value Company offers a competitive, total benefits package that acknowledges and rewards your contribution and performance. That's why we provide so many ways to help you be your healthiest self, physically, emotionally and financially. The benefits package includes medical, prescription drug, dental care, 401K (4% matching), holiday and paid time off, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, employee assistance program and employee discounts.
   
   Responsibilities: (May perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned).
   
   1. Releases, prints, and distributes labels, reports, and other jobs from the main frame system (ex. bin tickets, order filling labels, MRI's).
   
   2. Completes data entry tasks (ex. location changes, tote counts, bin to bin moves).
   
   3. Cross trains to perform other clerical duties as needed (ex. filing, mail, shipping, answering calls).
   
   4. Performs simple trouble shooting and maintenance on data processing equipment and performs file backups. Orders supplies and arranges equipment repair & maintenance with service vendors.
   
   Education & Experience:
   
   * High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience.
   * 1-3 years of experience, preferably in Communication, Customer Service, of Office environment.
   * Intermediate knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
   * Knowledge of internal operating systems and software.
   
   Licenses & Certifications: N/A
   
   Physical Requirements
   
   * Balancing, Climbing, Crouching, Hearing, Kneeling, Lifting, Pulling, Pushing, Reaching, Repetitive Motion, Seeing, Sitting, Standing, Stooping, Talking, Typing, Visual Acuity, Walking
   
   Work Environment: Generally, works in climate-controlled office environment. However, the position will be required to visit areas where air conditioning is unavailable and may be exposed to chemicals that are routinely present in the organization's facilities.
   
   Travel: N/A

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find data processing 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 data processing clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit data processing clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit data processing 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 data processing clerk

   Once you've selected the best data processing clerk candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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 data processing clerk. 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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