How to hire a reader

How to hire a reader, step by step

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

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

What does a reader do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the reader you need to hire. Certain reader 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 reader's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, readers 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 readers.

   Type of Reader	Description	Hourly rate
   Reader		$12-50
   Meter Technician	A meter technician is in charge of installing and maintaining electric meters that measure the electricity consumption of houses and establishments. Part of their job is to travel to different sites and conduct prior assessments before installation, liaise with property owners or representatives, and maintain records of transactions... Show more	$12-30
   Meter Reader	A meter reader is primarily in charge of assessing utility meters at homes or establishments, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around traveling to different locations according to a particular route, operating devices, maintaining records of all operations, collecting payments, and even connecting or disconnecting utilities in adherence to policies and regulations... Show more	$12-41

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Windows
   • Language Arts
   • Computer Screens
   • Social Studies
   • Student Responses
   • Fiction
   • K-12
   • Course Materials
   • Literature
   • DRC
   • Reading Comprehension
   • Test Scores
   • Standardized Testing
   • Performance Assessments

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate G5 hand-held computer or similar device for work.
   • Read and score achievement tests for numerous states, using DRC create rubrics.
   • Train on computer and the ITRON system.
   • Read and score MEAP essays for Michigan 5th graders
   • Supervise various levels of hundreds of scoring personnel across multiple scoring sites.
   • Read gas and electric meters for houses businesses and schools that have contracts with Entergy.

   More reader duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, readers' average salary in wyoming is 69% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level readers 76% less than senior-level readers.
   • Certifications. A reader 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 a reader's salary.

   Average reader salary

   $51,782yearly

   $24.90 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level reader salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average reader salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$62,932	$30
   2	California	$62,185	$30
   3	Massachusetts	$61,850	$30
   4	Maryland	$61,724	$30
   5	District of Columbia	$60,456	$29
   6	Wisconsin	$60,137	$29
   7	New Jersey	$56,841	$27
   8	Ohio	$52,056	$25
   9	Washington	$51,363	$25
   10	Utah	$50,998	$25
   11	Florida	$50,681	$24
   12	Louisiana	$50,677	$24
   13	South Carolina	$47,756	$23
   14	Colorado	$47,396	$23
   15	Pennsylvania	$45,011	$22
   16	Illinois	$44,487	$21
   17	Oregon	$40,618	$20
   18	Missouri	$39,548	$19
   19	Kansas	$37,678	$18
   20	Texas	$34,644	$17

   Average reader salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UMiami Health System	$91,074	$43.79
   2	University of Rochester	$91,036	$43.77
   3	PSEA	$83,837	$40.31	1
   4	Chicago Public Schools	$82,862	$39.84	1
   5	UC Merced	$81,318	$39.10
   6	Amen Clinics	$77,361	$37.19	2
   7	Solugenix	$75,094	$36.10
   8	Carnegie Mellon University	$74,711	$35.92
   9	MUFG EMEA	$71,889	$34.56
   10	Duke University Health System	$69,933	$33.62	3
   11	Kean University	$67,866	$32.63	2
   12	Dartmouth	$66,197	$31.83	1
   13	Johns Hopkins University	$65,232	$31.36
   14	University of Colorado Boulder	$63,241	$30.40
   15	University of Virginia	$58,369	$28.06	4
   16	University of North Carolina	$58,330	$28.04
   17	RF	$55,643	$26.75
   18	FrameWorks	$54,844	$26.37
   19	Gwinnett County Board of Education	$52,126	$25.06
   20	Minnesota Limited	$52,028	$25.01

4. Writing a reader job description

   A reader 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a reader job description:

   Reader job description example

   About Us:

   Founded in 1968 to meet the post-secondary and continuing education needs of Cecil County residents, Cecil College has been serving the community and shaping its future for more than 50 years. The College is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the governor. The College's fifth president, Dr. Mary Way Bolt, reports directly to the Board of Trustees.

   Cecil College is centrally located in Maryland's most northeastern county, just one half mile from Interstate 95. It is easily accessible from Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well as from Wilmington, Delaware.

   With a diverse student population, Cecil College enrolls approximately 2,500 credit students and 3,400 non-credit students. Cecil offers associate degrees, certificate programs and non-credit classes. Cecil offers a variety of associate degree and certificate programs.

   Through its open admissions policy, Cecil College provides learning opportunities for all who have the desire and ability to benefit from its courses and programs, regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status.

   Employees of Cecil College, including instructors for online and virtual courses, must be residents of Maryland or the contiguous states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or the District of Columbia.
   Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US, as the College does not offer Visa sponsorships.

   General Description:

   
   

   The Disability Support and Wellness Center (DSWC) seeks individuals willing to serve as readers and scribes for exams and quizzes for students with a disability related need for such services. Qualified applicants will be included in a pool and contacted whenever assignments are available that have a schedule match.

   Role needed:

   • Scribe and Readers

   Days and Times:

   • As needed: Availability must be submitted each term.

   Qualifications

   • The Scribe/Reader must: Be fluent in English and be able to speak clearly

   Responsibilities and Duties: The Scribe/Reader will:

   • Arrive promptly to all scheduled assignments
   • Read exam questions and associated answer choices word for word to the student
   • Record the student's responses verbatim (either mark their answer choice, or transcribe their verbal response)
   • Make adjustments to recorded responses when directed by the student.

   The Scribe/Reader will not:

   • Provide any assistance whatsoever
   • Make any alterations to the student's answers without being expressly asked to do so by the student

   
   

   *We are committed to ensuring equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all hiring and employment practices. Cecil College will not discriminate against any individual by reason of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic status, genetic information, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right reader 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 reader job on Zippia to find and recruit reader 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 readers, 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 reader

   Once you have selected a candidate for the reader position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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 reader. 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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