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How to hire an outreach worker

Outreach worker hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring outreach workers in the United States:

  • There are currently 10,095 outreach workers in the US, as well as 65,822 job openings.
  • Outreach workers are in the highest demand in New York, NY, with 29 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire an outreach worker 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 outreach worker to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an outreach worker, step by step

To hire an outreach worker, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an outreach worker, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step outreach worker hiring guide:

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

What does an outreach worker do?

An outreach worker is responsible for supporting community events and relief efforts to assist citizens with their needs, providing them resources, and facilitating lifestyle programs. Outreach workers coordinate with participants, suppliers, and sponsors for funding and promotions. They also manage the budgeting and allocation of resources for the programs, ensuring that the activities adhere to the state regulations and community benefits. An outreach worker must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing progress reports and transactions.

Learn more about the specifics of what an outreach worker does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The outreach worker hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an outreach worker to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an outreach worker that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of outreach workers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Outreach WorkerDescriptionHourly rate
    Outreach WorkerSocial and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.$13-23
    AdvocateAn advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause... Show more$12-27
    Service CounselorService counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials... Show more$11-24
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Social Work
    • Autism
    • Patients
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Substance Abuse
    • Community Resources
    • Outreach Services
    • Community Outreach
    • Mental Illness
    • Referral Services
    • Financial Assistance
    • Child Care
    • Mental Health
    • Street Outreach
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Review and research leads regarding personal injury cases by obtaining information from the Medicaid recipient's attorney and insurance adjuster
    • Provide information and referral to patients regarding community resources and needs indicate, and advocate eliminating barriers to care.
    • Provide resources for the community regarding health care issues and rehabilitation.
    • Conduct client interviews clients to gather information, assess need, and determine appropriate Medicaid category of eligibility.
    • Assist patients in application process for medical programs and screen for appropriate medical coverage eligibility available through state programs.
    • Deliver direct services to children with autism by executing individualize plans, completing necessary documentation and communication effectively with team.
    More outreach worker duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your outreach worker job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An outreach worker 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 an outreach worker in Kentucky may be lower than in North Dakota, and an entry-level outreach worker usually earns less than a senior-level outreach worker. Additionally, an outreach worker 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 outreach worker salary

    $37,639yearly

    $18.10 hourly rate

    Entry-level outreach worker salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 22, 2026

    Average outreach worker salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$49,178$24
    2Washington$46,357$22
    3Minnesota$46,044$22
    4Illinois$45,276$22
    5New York$44,626$21
    6New Hampshire$44,325$21
    7Alaska$43,234$21
    8Nevada$42,392$20
    9Connecticut$42,039$20
    10Oregon$41,956$20
    11Pennsylvania$41,763$20
    12Massachusetts$41,201$20
    13Utah$40,998$20
    14Wisconsin$40,461$19
    15Ohio$39,058$19
    16Maryland$38,219$18
    17Missouri$36,610$18
    18Texas$35,496$17
    19Florida$32,561$16
    20Virginia$31,681$15

    Average outreach worker salary by company

  4. Writing an outreach worker job description

    A good outreach worker 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 outreach worker job description:

    Outreach worker job description example

    FHCHC is a forward-thinking, dynamic, and exciting community health center that provides care for multiple generations at nearly 80,000 office visits in 17 locations. Overseen by a Board of Directors, the majority of whom are patients themselves, we are proud to offer a wide range of primary and specialty care services, as well as evidence-based patient programs to educate patients in healthy lifestyle choices. As we grow and are able to bring high-quality health care to more areas that need access, we continue to put our patients first in everything we do. The mission of FHCHC is “ To improve the health and social well-being of the communities we serve through equitable, high quality, patient-centered care that is culturally responsive .”

    For nearly 50 years, we have been a health care leader in our community focused on providing excellent, affordable primary care to all patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Fair Haven is proud to have a diverse and motivated team of professionals who are constantly seeking ways to enhance and improve the health and well-being of all patients. We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality medical and dental care, regardless of ability to pay.

    In partnership with Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, Fair Haven Community Health Care participates with the Service to Improve Community Health (STICH) AmeriCorps Program.

    What is the “STITCH” AmeriCorps Program?

    • Health-focused AmeriCorps Program
    • Members are placed at Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout Connecticut and CHCACT
    • 10-month commitment, 40+ hours/week
    • Implement health insurance literacy trainings, health education lessons, and mobilize volunteers
    • Provide care coordination, patient navigation, enrollment services, and program research

    What will the 2022-2023 FHCHC Member Role Include? (Job Description and Duties)

    This cycle, we are looking for a Telehealth Outreach Worker.

    Member will administer 20-minute interventions with clients, staff, patients, and community members to increase their knowledge, skill, and confidence to be active in their own care, specifically by identifying how insurance can help you get and stay healthy.

    In addition to required STICH Pre-Service Orientation and Monthly Member Meetings, the Member will take part in the following agency-specific trainings:

    • compliance trainings including HIPPA orientation, customer service, workplace safety, emergency preparedness, internet security, and ethics;
    • agency overview;
    • department and task specific training; and
    • Weekly 30-minute supervision meetings.

    *All STICH AmeriCorps members will perform Health Insurance Literacy 15% of the time and Training 20% of the time.

    Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Blood Pressure Program Coordination – 50%

    • Add new patients to (and maintain) RPM outreach tracker
    • Perform 24-72 hours post-training phone calls to enrolled patients to confirm transmissions and troubleshoot
    • Call patients with zero transmissions from Tableau report once a week, or as directed by Program Manager RN
    • Provide tech support to patients as needed and with the help of RPM team
    • Maintain site inventory and refill of supplies at all Fair Haven Community Health Care sites once every two weeks

    Diabetes Prevention Program Coordination – 15%

    • Phone outreach to patients with risk factors for diabetes to engage in Diabetes Prevention Program as directed by Program Manager RN
    • Scheduling at-risk patients for Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests
    • Hands-on support of patient and workflow during twice monthly Oral Glucose Tolerance Test screenings/education sessions

    Qualifications

    • Associates Degree required, Bachelor’s preferred, Bilingual Spanish and English, highly preferred.

    OSHA Status

    Category I—Increased Risk Position

    Potential exposure to hazardous waste and blood borne pathogens, clinical settings

    Physical requirements

    Physical Demands: Requires walking, bending, sitting, standing, writing, reading, telephone use, data input into computer, pulling medical records,

    Mental Demands: Ability to cope with continual changing priorities under potentially stressful conditions

    Manual Dexterity Required: Ability to use a keyboard, telephone.

    American with Disabilities Requirements

    External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job specific responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case by case basis.

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  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find outreach workers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your outreach worker job on Zippia to find and recruit outreach worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit outreach workers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 outreach worker

    Once you've selected the best outreach worker 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.

    To prepare for the new outreach worker first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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 outreach worker?

Recruiting outreach workers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $37,639 per year for an outreach worker, 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 outreach workers in the US typically range between $13 and $23 an hour.

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