How to hire an enumerator

How to hire an enumerator, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an enumerator, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an enumerator 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 an enumerator that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Enumerator	Description	Hourly rate
   Enumerator	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$12-33
   Reviewer	A reviewer specializes in providing constructive and insightful feedback over forms of literature, goods, or services. Moreover, a reviewer is primarily responsible for examining and understanding all aspects of a product, remaining professional and unbiased, relaying areas needing improvement, and suggesting ways to make the product better... Show more	$15-34
   Admissions Clerk	An admissions clerk caters to all incoming customers, applicants, or patients in a facility. Their primary job is to handle the personal data of those customers, applicants, or patients... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Census Data
   • Confidentiality Laws
   • Conduct Interviews
   • Paper Forms
   • Accuracy Standards
   • Quality Control Verification
   • Quality Control Results
   • GPS
   • Data Collection
   • Census Bureau
   • Enumerators
   • Hand-Held Computer
   • Federal Government
   • Telephone Interviews

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead territory HUD quality control study of rent calculations.
   • Used tools such as shovels, Pulaski's, post pounders, pliers.
   • Follow up on non-response households by conducting census.
   • Used research and organization skills to enter relevant data.
   • Complete and comply with CSX, MSDS and FRA currency testing as needed.
   • Maintain landscaping for residential and commercial grounds to include: mowing, planting, pruning, and mulching.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your enumerator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An enumerator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, enumerators' average salary in nebraska is 60% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level enumerators 63% less than senior-level enumerators.
   • Certifications. An enumerator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an enumerator's salary.

   Average enumerator salary

   $43,133yearly

   $20.74 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level enumerator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing an enumerator job description

   An enumerator 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 an enumerator job description:

   Enumerator job description example

   This administration position earns a competitive wage of $15/hour , and opportunities for a promotion based on hours worked and performance ratings. We also offer exceptional perks , including a flexible schedule, the opportunity to work from home, the ability to work in your community, and knowledge about where your food comes from . If this sounds like the right opportunity in agriculture for you, apply today!

   
   

   ABOUT NASDA

   NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association that represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. Founded in 1916, our mission is to grow and enhance American agriculture through policies, partnerships, and public engagement.

   Since 1972, NASDA has employed enumerators to collect agricultural data on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). In order to achieve our goals, we need employees who are as passionate about agriculture as we are and willing to put in the hard work. To find the right people, we strive to create a positive work environment that our employees can be proud of and want to build their careers with!

   
   

   A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN OFFICE / PHONE ENUMERATOR

   You play a crucial role in providing reliable, accurate, and objective agricultural statistics and information that farmers, ranchers, and rural communities depend on. You conduct telephone interviews with farm and ranch operators as well as other related businesses. In order to gain cooperation, you explain the purpose of the survey or census and then proceed to record data on a survey instrument. This typically involves talking on the phone while typing answers at the same time, but your expert multitasking skills make this a nonissue.

   After reviewing the information for completeness, you edit and assist with processing the information. In addition, you answer any incoming calls from farmers and accurately respond to questions related to various surveys and the Census of Agriculture. You also assist with any other administration duties including operating office machines when needed. Staying organized and effectively completing tasks brings you great satisfaction, which is why you are perfect for this position!

   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN OFFICE / PHONE ENUMERATOR

   • Experience multitasking in an energetic, deadline-oriented work environment
   • Ability to represent NASDA and the benefits of enumerators positively in all survey actions
   • Knowledge about computers or iPads
   • Excellent typing skills

   Do you have excellent verbal and written communication skills? Are you able to demonstrate good time management in a fast-paced environment? Can you maintain a friendly and positive attitude? Are you self-motivated? Do you enjoy working as part of a team? If so, you might just be perfect for this administration position at our agriculture nonprofit!

   
   

   WORK SCHEDULE

   This part-time administration position works a flexible schedule that may include some evenings, weekends, and holidays .

   
   

   READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

   We understand your time is valuable, so we have a very quick and easy application process. If you feel that you would be right for this Office / Phone Enumerator job, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting enumerators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 enumerator

   Once you've selected the best enumerator 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.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new enumerator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

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