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How to hire a navigator

Navigator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring navigators in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a navigator 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 navigator to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a navigator, step by step

To hire a navigator, 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 a navigator:

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

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

What does a navigator do?

Navigators are responsible for a ship or aircraft's navigation requiring positional awareness. Their duties include mapping out for the journey, avoiding any hazards during travel, and advising the captain or commander on estimated time en route to the destination. Navigators are involved in maintaining the ship or aircraft's communication, nautical publications and charts, navigational equipment, and meteorological device. In the air force world, modern navigators are tasked with copilot duties and employing weapons systems.

Learn more about the specifics of what a navigator does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the navigator you need to hire. Certain navigator 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?

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

    Type of NavigatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Navigator$13-25
    Business To Business Sales ConsultantA business-to-business sales consultant is responsible for strategizing techniques to effectively sell goods and services to the clients according to their business needs and objectives. Business-to-business sales consultants analyze the current market trends and conduct data analysis to predict sales performance and identify opportunities that would increase the company's revenues and market competitiveness... Show more$14-38
    Business Development RepresentativeA business development representative's role is to find new business and client opportunities through market research and networking. They are primarily responsible for participating in creating strategies to enhance client relations, improve sales, and reach out to potential clients through calls, correspondence, and meetings... Show more$12-39
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Social Work
    • Customer Service
    • Patient Care
    • Rehabilitation
    • Community Resources
    • Home Health
    • Mental Health
    • Social Services
    • Support Services
    • Primary Care
    • Veterans
    • Data Entry
    • Substance Abuse
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Utilize EMR data to identify patients with low back pain and determine patient eligibility.
    • Provide tours and information to families considering rehabilitation at PAM.
    • Provide assessment, counseling and case management to patients receiving abnormal breast imaging and malignant biopsy results.
    • Advise patients on appropriate protocols for maintaining good health habits and assist patients in receiving update medication adherence.
    • Provide rehabilitation, employment and training resources for eligible participants to encourage continuing participation in the labor force.
    • Staff daily referrals with hospital staff to discuss medical conditions and reviewing medical charts for need Medicaid and disability applications.
    More navigator duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your navigator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A navigator 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 navigator in Utah may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level navigator usually earns less than a senior-level navigator. Additionally, a navigator 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 navigator salary

    $39,719yearly

    $19.10 hourly rate

    Entry-level navigator salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026

    Average navigator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$50,593$24
    2Washington$47,523$23
    3California$47,021$23
    4Oregon$46,240$22
    5Maryland$45,714$22
    6New Jersey$45,438$22
    7Massachusetts$45,309$22
    8Connecticut$44,547$21
    9Minnesota$44,349$21
    10District of Columbia$43,653$21
    11Maine$41,896$20
    12Virginia$41,268$20
    13North Carolina$41,180$20
    14Pennsylvania$40,505$19
    15Illinois$40,303$19
    16Nevada$39,829$19
    17Colorado$38,936$19
    18Georgia$38,381$18
    19Texas$37,684$18
    20Arizona$37,343$18

    Average navigator salary by company

  4. Writing a navigator job description

    A navigator 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 navigator job description:

    Navigator job description example

    Among our many accolades, we have been designated 8 times the only A-Rated for Safety Hospital, awarded M a g n et Recognition for superior nursing, named Best Regional Hospital by US News and World Report and ranked among the 100 best places to work in healthcare (nationally). Jersey City Medical Center is also ideally located in the vibrant Jersey City waterfront community overlooking the harbor, just 10 minutes from New York City, with a grand view of the Statue of Liberty.

    Job Description

    The primary purpose of the Trauma Patient Navigator is to serve as a role model and community liaison to individuals who are enrolledin the Jersey City Medical Center Hospital Violence Intervention Program (HVIP). Trauma Patient Navigators are expected to developrelationships based on trust with patients and families, provide reliable information, appropriate community resource referrals, andemotional support to victims of violence who are being treated in the hospital and have agreed to participate in the program. Thisindividual will function as a core member of the trauma patient care team.

    Additional Requirements

    Bachelor's degree required, BA in counseling, social work, psychology, forensics or related field preferred. NJ Driver's license required. Spanish speaking required. Successful completion of training including hospital-wide orientation, trauma informed care training, orientation to the trauma service,and shadowing of community outreach organizations required. Previous mentoring experience is desired. Participation in community organizations and firsthand understanding of issues related to interpersonal violence preferred. Sensitivity to a substance abuse environment preferred. Must have a basic understanding of computer use and software applications, and the ability to perform basic internet searches. Must have demonstrated interest in serving the Jersey City community. Must be able to work independently and seek guidance when necessary. Must have good listening skills. Must have a demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and have the ability to work with individuals of a diverse background. Must have own transportation to accompany patients to appointments and connect with community resources, as needed.

    We are committed to High Reliability and consistent demonstration of our Safety Together behaviors and tools:

    S - Speak up for Safety

    A - Accurately communicate

    F - Focus on the task

    E - Exercise and accept a questioning attitude

    T - Thoughtfully interact

    Y - You and Me Together

    RWJBarnabas Health offers excellent-provided benefits which include: competitive compensation, comprehensive medical/dental benefits, 403 (B) savings plan, Flexible Spending Plans, PTO program, tuition reimbursement and so much more.

    Equal Employment Opportunity

  5. Post your job

    To find the right navigator 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 navigators they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit navigators 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 navigator job on Zippia to find and recruit navigator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with navigator 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 navigator

    Once you've selected the best navigator 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 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new navigator. 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

How much does it cost to hire a navigator?

Hiring a navigator comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting navigators 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 navigator recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for navigators is $39,719 in the US. However, the cost of navigator hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a navigator for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $25 an hour.

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