How to hire a field researcher

How to hire a field researcher, step by step

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

What does a field researcher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your field researcher 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 researcher 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 researcher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, field researchers 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 field researcher salaries for various roles:

   Type of Field Researcher	Description	Hourly rate
   Field Researcher	Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data. Surveys are used to collect factual data, such as employment and salary information, or to ask questions in order to understand people’s opinions, preferences, beliefs, or desires.	$4-31
   Graduate Researcher	A graduate researcher is responsible for supporting an educational institution's academic research processes. Graduate researchers assist in data gathering and performing in-depth analysis using research methodologies under the supervision of a research professor... Show more	$7-32
   Market Researcher	In businesses, a market researcher is primarily responsible for performing market research and analysis. Although the extent of their duties usually depends on their place of employment, it typically includes coordinating with other experts, gathering and analyzing data, identifying new business opportunities, studying market activities, creating questionnaires, and developing test structures... Show more	$15-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Research Data
   • GPS
   • Data Entry
   • Public Health
   • Data Collection
   • In-Person Interviews
   • GIS
   • R
   • Statistical Analysis
   • Data Analysis
   • Creek
   • Ecology
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Research Study

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create Linux shell scripts to automate common process which severely reduce manual work load and processing time for the entire lab.
   • Perform data entry in compliance with FDA guidelines.
   • Utilize GPS technology in the field to conduct remote field surveys.
   • Collect field, literary and GIS data, perform analysis and prepare a report of findings.
   • Complete a separate project report and GIS analysis of the data collect during the field season.
   • Conduct intensive study of Hawaiian reef ecology; create identification key of all fish, coral and invertebrate species.

   More field researcher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your field researcher job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A field researcher salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a field researcher in Oregon may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level field researcher usually earns less than a senior-level field researcher. Additionally, a field researcher with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average field researcher salary

   $12.19hourly

   $25,347 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level field researcher salary

   $9,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average field researcher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$32,673	$16
   2	Colorado	$32,475	$16
   3	Arizona	$28,877	$14
   4	California	$28,349	$14
   5	New Jersey	$26,421	$13
   6	Utah	$25,972	$12
   7	Connecticut	$24,761	$12
   8	Florida	$23,192	$11
   9	Texas	$23,056	$11
   10	Nevada	$22,804	$11
   11	Pennsylvania	$22,662	$11
   12	Illinois	$20,532	$10
   13	North Carolina	$17,346	$8

   Average field researcher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	New York University	$72,587	$34.90	6
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$54,454	$26.18
   3	Rutgers University	$53,703	$25.82	13
   4	National Renewable Energy Laboratory	$43,380	$20.86	9
   5	University of Georgia Small Business Development Center	$42,128	$20.25	16
   6	Service Employees International Union Local 205	$41,575	$19.99	2
   7	University of Colorado Boulder	$35,473	$17.05	8
   8	Randstad North America, Inc.	$27,042	$13.00
   9	Rio Tinto	$25,811	$12.41
   10	Hanley	$25,641	$12.33	5

4. Writing a field researcher job description

   A field researcher 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 researcher job description:

   Field researcher job description example

   Zonda is redefining the future of housing. We are perfectly placed in the heart of the fast-growing real estate industry. We are making big bets on the future of real-estate, trailblazing a 2030 vision for the industry. Here at Zonda, you'll be able to use your passion and curiosity to drive the next generation of real estate analysts, advisors, and technologists.
   
   Zonda is looking for a Field Researcher to evolve and expand our research team. Zonda looks for people who can grow, think, dream, and create. When you join our team, you'll be in a unique position to make a change with every project. You'll use your full range of skills to build great experiences and learn about the real estate industry, economics, and data. You'll be supported with the necessary tools, and you'll be working with an awesome and like-minded team. Our teams are innovative, diverse, multidisciplinary, and collaborative - all working to build the future of housing.
   
   This Field Researcher position is a short-term, quarterly role. Field Researchers are responsible for driving through new residential subdivisions recording the building progress while updating builder, floor plan, and pricing information.
   
   Research work is done over a 2 to 3 week period of time at the end of each quarter (every 90 days). During that time the hours are flexible within the calendar week, Sunday through Saturday, 8AM - 6PM. The pay rate is $11.00 per hour plus mileage.
   Survey work will be completed in the following areas:
   
   Collier County, FL
   
   Qualified Candidates will Possess:
   
   + A Valid Driver's License and clean driving record
   
   + Current automobile insurance
   
   + The ability to lift 20lbs
   
   + Attention to detail and detail orientation
   
   + Basic math skills
   
   + Ability to use GPS navigation systems and/or read maps
   
   This job is perfect for someone looking for a part-time job with flexible hours. Interested candidates should complete an online application.
   
   Candidates who are offered the Field Researcher position will be required to submit to a background check reviewing criminal and driving records.
   
   Zonda provides data-driven housing market solutions to the homebuilding industry. From builders to building product manufacturers, mortgage clients, and multifamily executives, we work hand-in-hand with our customers to streamline access to housing data to empower smarter decisions. As a leading brand in residential construction, our mission is to advance the home building industry, because we believe better homes mean better lives and stronger communities.
   
   Together, we are building the future of housing.
   
   Zonda (formerly Hanley Wood | Meyers Research) is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. m/f/d/v
   
   ID: 2022-5212
   
   External Company URL: www.zonda.com
   
   Telecommute: Yes

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with field researcher candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 field researcher

   Once you've found the field researcher 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new field researcher. 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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How much does it cost to hire a field researcher?