How to hire a field enumerator

How to hire a field enumerator, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your field enumerator 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 field enumerator 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 field enumerator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, field enumerators 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 field enumerators.

   Type of Field Enumerator	Description	Hourly rate
   Field Enumerator	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$10-28
   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
   Admitting Clerk	The job of an admitting clerk is to register and admit patients to a hospital. Admitting clerks interview patients in getting the necessary financial and medical information for the admission... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Confidentiality Laws
   • Data Collection
   • Accuracy Standards
   • Quality Control Verification
   • USDA
   • GPS

   Responsibilities:

   • Work with and lead operators, effectively conveying information, ensuring successful wireline operation performance.
   • Identify housing units and update maps using GPS device; interview people when necessary.
   • Conduct in-person screening/interviewing of different individuals of all age groups in select households using computer assist personal interviewing (CAPI).
   • Work with and lead operators, effectively conveying information, ensuring successful wireline operation performance.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, field enumerators' average salary in arkansas is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level field enumerators 65% less than senior-level field enumerators.
   • Certifications. A field 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 a field enumerator's salary.

   Average field enumerator salary

   $35,935yearly

   $17.28 hourly rate

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   Entry-level field enumerator salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

4. Writing a field enumerator job description

   A field 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. Below, you can find an example of a field enumerator job description:

   Field enumerator job description example

   This field enumerator position earns a competitive wage of $15/hour , plus mileage with 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 A FIELD ENUMERATOR

   In this Field Enumerator position, you play a crucial role in serving our agricultural producers by providing reliable, accurate, and objective statistics and information that farmers, ranchers, and rural communities depend on. You actively interview farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural businesses either in person or on the phone. At times, you travel to designated fields in order to perform crop counts. After gathering all your information, you maintain and deliver detailed and legible records of the interviews, crop counts, mileage, expenditures, and your hours worked.

   You conduct your enumerator work from a residence with an operable telephone free from any distractions. By maintaining a personal vehicle, you are always ready to travel in order to perform your field enumerator duties. The job brings something new every day, and you enjoy the flexibility and energetic nature of it!

   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS FOR A FIELD ENUMERATOR

   • Experience multitasking in an energetic, deadline-oriented work environment
   • Ability to positively represent NASDA and the benefits of enumerators in all survey actions
   • Ability to make crop counts in designated fields
   • Ability to maintain a reliable personal vehicle
   • Ability to conduct interviews in person or by telephone with farm operators and other individuals
   • Knowledge about computers or iPads

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

   
   

   WORK SCHEDULE

   This part-time field service position works a flexible schedule that may include some evenings, weekends, and holidays . Weather, seasonal farm responsibilities, and community functions may affect work hours.

   
   

   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 Field Enumerator job, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!

   Location: (Central Ohio)

   
   
   

   NASDA does not discriminate in employment practices or programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, political beliefs, or family status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right field enumerator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit field enumerators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 field enumerator

   Once you've found the field enumerator 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.

   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 field enumerator. 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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