How to hire a laboratory clerk

How to hire a laboratory clerk, step by step

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

Post a laboratory clerk job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the laboratory clerk you need to hire. Certain laboratory clerk roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

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

   This list presents laboratory clerk salaries for various positions.

   Type of Laboratory Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Laboratory Clerk	General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.	$7-31
   Clerk Typist	A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients... Show more	$12-18
   Office Clerk	Office clerks are administrative employees who handle clerical activities for the organization. They are in charge of managing company records, organizing and storing documents, filing and sorting hard copies of documents, and liaising with other departments or external partners... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Phlebotomy
   • Lab Specimens
   • Computer System
   • Computer Data Entry
   • Medical Terminology
   • Specimen Handling
   • Office Equipment
   • Lab Results
   • Test Results
   • Chemistry
   • Lab Tests
   • LIS
   • Microbiology

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
   • Train and follow strict HIPAA laws for protection of patient privacy.
   • Ensure patient safeguard, protection and comply to all company policies, procedures and HIPAA regulations
   • Process and organize patients' medical lab records and maintain records accuracy.
   • Confer with patients to obtain information for laboratory records, explain testing and addressed patient concerns.
   • Perform immunological, chemical, microbiological, and hematological tests, critically examine results for accuracy, troubleshoot discrepancies.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your laboratory clerk job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A laboratory clerk salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, laboratory clerks' average salary in louisiana is 66% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level laboratory clerks earn 77% less than senior-level laboratory clerks.
   • Certifications. A laboratory clerk with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a laboratory clerk's salary.

   Average laboratory clerk salary

   $15.47hourly

   $32,182 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level laboratory clerk salary

   $15,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

4. Writing a laboratory clerk job description

   A job description for a laboratory clerk role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a laboratory clerk job description:

   Laboratory clerk job description example

   PRN, day shift
   
   Job Summary:
   
   Draws blood by capillary or venipuncture, labels tubes properly, and delivers tubes to Lab according to Laboratory Policy and Procedure. Maintains Order Monitor and organizes workload with phlebotomy staff and other applicable hospital personnel. Performs office work and charting. Processes extra and coagulation tubes including centrifuging and proper storage. Loads specimens onto the Power Processor. Answers telephones, responds to inquiries by hospital personnel, visitors or others. Participates in training procedures as directed by supervisor.
   
   Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
   
   The following is a summary of the major functions of this individual's job. He or she may perform other duties, both major and minor, which are not mentioned below, and specific functions may change from time to time.
   
   1. Draws blood by capillary or venipuncture method
   
   2. Labels tubes properly, and delivers tube to Lab according to Laboratory Policy and Procedure.
   
   3. Maintains a stocked and sanitary tray and collection area.
   
   4. Uses Order Monitor to keep current on pending tests. Communicates unresolved issues to next shift.
   
   5. Receives samples as they arrive according to LIS and laboratory procedure.
   
   6. Loads onto the Power Processor.
   
   7. Delivers specimens to the appropriate department.
   
   8. Processes extra tubes, including centrifuging and proper storage.
   
   9. Answers the pneumatic tube systems in a timely manner.
   
   10. Orders and credit patient testing in LIS as needed.
   
   11. Acts as a reception for the Phlebotomy/Central Processing area.
   
   12. Performs workload requirements as needed according to laboratory priority and supervisory direction.
   
   13. Active participant in TQM/QA activities and process.
   
   14. Charts patient reports according to policy and supervisors direction.
   
   15. Annual completion of competency validation, mandatory safety programs, and OSHA requirements.
   
   Minimum Education, Training and Experience Required:
   
   A. High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
   
   B. Previous hospital experience preferred.
   
   If you would like to be part of a growing family focused on supporting clinical excellence, teamwork and innovation, we urge you to apply now!
   
   Employees will be expected to comply with Baptist Health's infectious disease and vaccination policies, which include but may not be limited to compliance with BHS' mandatory vaccination policies for influenza and COVID unless reasonable accommodations are needed under applicable law
   
   Baptist Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find laboratory clerks for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any laboratory clerks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level laboratory clerks with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with laboratory clerk 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 laboratory clerk

   Once you've selected the best laboratory 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 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new laboratory clerk. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a laboratory clerk?