How to hire a license clerk

How to hire a license clerk, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the license clerk you need to hire. Certain license 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 license clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, license 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 shows salaries for various types of license clerks.

   Type of License Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   License Clerk	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$12-19
   Clerk	Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies... Show more	$11-18
   Title Clerk	Title clerks are responsible for preparing and processing title paperwork to transfer property ownership of a vehicle or real estate. They typically work for lawyers and agents, accomplishing varied tasks such as submitting title documents to the designated government office and verifying the collection of funds from sales... Show more	$12-20

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Office Equipment
   • Routine Data Entry
   • Notary
   • Driver License
   • Business License Applications
   • Vehicle Registration
   • DMV
   • License Plates
   • Background Checks
   • Motor Vehicle
   • Office Support
   • Identification Card
   • Marriage Licenses

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
   • Train new drivers for daily operations and test them for CDL qualifications and road skills.
   • Process title and automobile registration applications, bookkeeping/accounting duties including payroll, accounts payable/receivables, balancing accounts and business taxes.
   • Enter personal customer information into DPS database.

   More license clerk duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, license clerks' average salary in kentucky is 36% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level license clerks earn 33% less than senior-level license clerks.
   • Certifications. A license 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 license clerk's salary.

   Average license clerk salary

   $16.06hourly

   $33,409 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level license clerk salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average license clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$37,866	$18
   2	Wyoming	$37,348	$18
   3	Utah	$36,713	$18
   4	Nebraska	$36,082	$17
   5	Minnesota	$35,983	$17
   6	Ohio	$29,062	$14

   Average license clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Minnesota State Fair	$37,775	$18.16	1
   2	AAA Northeast	$33,995	$16.34
   3	AAA Systems	$33,674	$16.19
   4	Wyoming	$32,010	$15.39	13
   5	Maverik	$28,446	$13.68
   6	Werner Enterprises	$28,100	$13.51	2

4. Writing a license clerk job description

   A good license clerk 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 a license clerk job description:

   License clerk job description example

   Considering a career with Ken Garff Automotive Group means you are in for a great ride (excuse the car metaphor)! We're not your standard dealership or group of dealerships and we are pretty darn proud of that. We are out to do things differently and want to consistently change, grow, and progress. For that reason, our employees are proud of where they work!
   
   Culver City Toyota, a Ken Garff Automotive Dealership, is currently looking for a talented Automotive Title Licensing Clerk that align with our core values and acts with respect, intelligence, greatness, honesty and teamwork.
   
   As a group, we aim to become the most esteemed automotive group by treating people R.I.G.H.T and creating lifetime customers!
   Here's why you'll want to work here:
   
   * Paid training and real career growth
   * Competitive compensation package
   * Great scheduled (Monday - Friday)
   * Great people with a great culture
   * Paid Time Off and 401k with Company match
   * Medical, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-term disability, AD&D and Life Insurance
   * Year-end bonus program for all employees (Garff Giveback)
   * Employee discounts on Vehicle Purchase, Parts, Service and More!
   
   Here's what you'll be doing:
   
   * Perform and prepare all legal documents needed for the transfer for the Department of Motor Vehicles
   * Process new and used vehicles for registration as needed to be titled.
   * Prepare all tax and title documents for vehicles
   * Verify that all funds are processed, and the correct lien hold is paid before processing the title applications
   * Quality check all documents submitted to ensure the application has all information needed.
   * Responsible for billing out dealer trades as needed
   * Other duties as assigned
   
   Here's what you'll need:
   
   * 1 year of experience in a title clerk position required
   * 2 or more years of clerical and or administrative experience preferred
   * Must have the ability to read and comprehend instructions and information
   * Proficiency in Microsoft Office software products, and the general use of a computer and calculator
   * High School Diploma or equivalent
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   (( We Hear You ))

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right license clerk 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 license clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit license clerk 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 license clerks, 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.

   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 license clerk

   Once you've selected the best license 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.

   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 license 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.)

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