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How to hire an indexer

Indexer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring indexers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an indexer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new indexer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an indexer, step by step

To hire an indexer, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire an indexer:

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

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

    Before you start hiring an indexer, 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?

    An indexer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, indexers 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 indexers.

    Type of IndexerDescriptionHourly rate
    IndexerInformation clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.$12-18
    Data ProcessorA data processor is responsible for encoding various information to the organization's database, originating from either manual or electronic communications. Data processors must be highly detail-oriented, especially on analyzing the completeness of data before uploading it to the system... Show more$12-19
    Data Entry ProcessorA data entry processor is primarily in charge of performing data entry tasks in a company or office. Their responsibilities revolve around updating databases and spreadsheets, coordinating with different departments to gather data, conducting extensive research and analysis, and keeping an eye for errors and inconsistencies... Show more$12-18
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Computer Database
    • Data Entry
    • Proofread
    • Computer System
    • Quality Checks
    • Epic
    • Client Specifications
    • Client Guidelines
    • Hippa
    • Database Systems
    • Patient Charts
    • FDA
    • Insurance Claims
    • HIPAA
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Maintain and manage database with clinical details and digital radiology imaging.
    • Adhere to HIPPA policies and guidelines to protect patient privacy.
    • Index and proofread academic manuscripts; correspond with publishers and authors.
    • Perform QC checks, prepare FDA case reports, and conduct database searches.
    • Execute all transactions in accordance to HIPPA, company policy and procedures along with contractual guidelines.
    • Print batch cover sheets and separator sheets, copy paper CRF's for monitors, distribute to scanner operator.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, indexers' average salary in idaho is 30% less than in maryland.
    • Seniority. Entry-level indexers 34% less than senior-level indexers.
    • Certifications. An indexer 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 indexer's salary.

    Average indexer salary

    $15.10hourly

    $31,405 yearly

    Entry-level indexer salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025
  4. Writing an indexer job description

    A good indexer 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 an indexer job description:

    Indexer job description example

    :
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor works as part of a team that accurately creates, enters, edits, and maintains product information elements (metadata) for all products.
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor focuses on ensuring completeness, accuracy, and suitability of all metadata.
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor is also an energetic and creative troubleshooter who works with a wide variety of people regarding all issues related to content.
    • The ideal candidate should be an avid consumer of media, including books/periodicals (audio and digital reader), websites, blogs, and other digital content sources.
    • He/she is also a self-starter with impeccable organizational and analytical skills, a confident and upbeat communicator via written and verbal business communication skills, highly organized and detail-oriented, and able to thrive in a high-energy entrepreneurial environment.
    • Previous proofreading and/or copyediting experience is required.

    Key Accountabilities :

    Product Metadata Indexing and Copyediting :
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor proofreads and fact-checks all product descriptions and supporting information prior to releasing a product to be published to marketplaces (stores, Amazon.com, iTunes).
    • Key elements such as a product's price, on-sale date, territory rights, availability, provider, royalty earner, associated Amazon ASIN code, and all taxonomy elements are top priority areas of review.
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor also provides QA for style in product descriptions, data consistency, and related product linking for all product metadata.
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor needs to meet daily copyediting quotas and complete prioritized processing requests.

    Editorial :
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor may need to research, edit, rewrite, or occasionally create descriptions for products.
    • The Indexer/Copyeditor Contractor may need to research and assemble positive product review "blurbs” to be added to product descriptions.

    Skills/Experience Requirements :
    • BA/BS or equivalent degree, preferably in Humanities
    • Editorial experience preparing online content
    • Proofreading experience; copyediting experience a plus
    • Working knowledge of database concepts (including Excel skills) and best practices
    • Demonstrated multitasking and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment
    • Demonstrated ability to work with a wide variety of people
    • Demonstrated focused attention to detail
    • Highly organized
    • Technical proficiency in Windows operating environment
    • An avid consumer of online media, including books (audio and print), websites, blogs, and other digital content sources.
    • A confident and upbeat communicator via written and verbal business communication skills.
    • Minimum one-year professional proofreading, copyediting, and fact-checking experience in publishing
    • Minimum one year of experience in a Web-based publishing environment
    • Familiarity with social media and Web-based research tools (e.g., Google, Goodreads)
    • Basic familiarity with SEO concepts

    About the Company :
    • Our client is a company whose entrepreneurial spirit with a team of pioneers and inventors who are not afraid to disrupt the status quo and apply an innovative approach to everything they do—from revolutionizing an art form to enacting positive change in the cities and countries in which we operate. As the largest producer of audiobooks in the world, they are passionate about well-composed words that are artfully performed. The company’s consistent focus on technological innovation and superior programming has earned them many millions of habituated subscribers.
    • The company’s People Principles celebrate who they are and where they have been, and guide the way they work shoulder to shoulder to enhance the lives of their millions of customers. They reflect and apply to everyone who works with our clients. The entrepreneurs and operators, the dreamers and the doers, those who have worked there for 20 years, and those who have arrived in the past few weeks and months.
    #ZR1
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right indexer 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 indexer job on Zippia to find and recruit indexer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting indexers 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.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    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 indexer

    Once you've found the indexer 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been 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.)
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How much does it cost to hire an indexer?

Hiring an indexer comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting indexers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of indexer recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $31,405 per year for an indexer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for indexers in the US typically range between $12 and $18 an hour.

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