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How to hire a records clerk

Records clerk hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring records clerks in the United States:

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

How to hire a records clerk, step by step

To hire a records clerk, 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 records clerk:

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

What does a records clerk do?

A records clerk is responsible for performing clerical and administrative duties, filing important documents, and keeping the company's files safe. Records clerks sort papers accurately and provide the files only to authorized personnel. They categorize records efficiently and dispose of unnecessary files, following correct procedures of the organization. A records clerk maintains a records database for easy tracking and retrieving of files. A records clerk must have excellent organizational and time-management skills, especially when compiling documents that are urgently needed.

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

    Before you start hiring a records clerk, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    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 a records clerk 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 a records clerk that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of records clerks.

    Type of Records ClerkDescriptionHourly rate
    Records ClerkInformation clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.$11-18
    Clerk TypistA 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
    Administrative ClerkAn administrative clerk provides support to staff and does clerical works. These clerical duties include answering and making phone calls, typing documents, compiling and filing records, and scheduling appointments... Show more$12-19
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Data Entry
    • Customer Service
    • Digital Database
    • Office Equipment
    • Management System
    • Computer System
    • Background Checks
    • Patient Charts
    • Office Machines
    • Clerical Support
    • Word Processing
    • Subpoenas
    • Law Enforcement Agencies
    • Police Reports
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
    • Review case files for evictions.
    • Proofread all legal documents for signatures.
    • Provide the statistics on a Powerpoint presentation.
    • Compute, record, and proofread reports.
    • Patrol designate districts in patrol cars and on foot.
    More records clerk duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the records clerk job description is a good way to get more applicants. A records clerk salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a records clerk in Indiana may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level records clerk. Additionally, a records clerk with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average records clerk salary

    $14.32hourly

    $29,795 yearly

    Entry-level records clerk salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 24, 2025

    Average records clerk salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$36,006$17
    2Colorado$35,448$17
    3Virginia$35,444$17
    4Minnesota$34,789$17
    5California$33,501$16
    6New Jersey$32,604$16
    7Wyoming$31,371$15
    8Connecticut$31,365$15
    9Pennsylvania$31,154$15
    10Utah$29,777$14
    11Texas$29,251$14
    12Arizona$29,247$14
    13South Carolina$28,632$14
    14Nebraska$28,578$14
    15Georgia$28,544$14
    16Delaware$28,350$14
    17District of Columbia$27,801$13
    18Indiana$26,697$13
    19Florida$26,121$13
    20Oklahoma$25,403$12

    Average records clerk salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Saint Xavier University$51,114$24.57
    2Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker Llp$48,697$23.411
    3Hancock Wellness$45,336$21.80
    4Epiq$42,151$20.266
    5United States Courts$41,558$19.9866
    6Ulmer & Berne$39,902$19.18
    7Fort Bend County$37,683$18.1211
    8University of Rochester$37,414$17.996
    9Fox Rothschild$37,344$17.959
    10GPAC$36,988$17.78
    11Bexar County$36,180$17.39
    12Loudoun County Social Svc$35,069$16.86
    13Kent Daniels & Associates$34,652$16.662
    14Gosnold$34,478$16.58
    15Frederick County$34,416$16.551
    16Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness P$34,338$16.51
    17Sierra Nevada$33,689$16.204
    18ADM$32,667$15.713
    19Christiana Care Health Services, Inc.$32,654$15.70
    20Chicago Public Schools$32,457$15.609
  4. Writing a records clerk job description

    A records clerk 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 records clerk job description:

    Records clerk job description example

    Interviews patients and prepares Birth Certificate worksheets, Social Security Information sheet, and Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement (PA) forms. Submits the original PA forms to the State Office of Vital Records. Enters Birth and Fetal demise information electronically into the State of Georgia’s web-based system. Ensures Birth and Fetal deaths are registered within set timelines outlined by the State of Georgia. Completes and submits Death Certificates for newborn deaths. Updates infant names in the Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI) upon discharge from the facility with 100% accuracy. Ensures retention and destruction of Birth and Fetal Death worksheets are followed according to the State of Georgia’s retention policy. Accurately keeps Birth Log complete.

    Qualifications:

    Education

    High School Diploma or GED required.

    Associate Degree in Health Information Management or related field preferred.

    Licensure/Certification

    N/A

    Experience

    High School Diploma or GED with two (2) years’ experience in a Health Care Related field, preferably in Health Information Services, required.

    Associate Degree in Health Information Management or related field and no experience required.

    Knowledge, skills, abilities

    Knowledge of the registration process.

    Knowledge of medical terminology focusing specifically in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric, and newborns.

    Knowledge of the basic elements of accounting and statistical reporting.

    Working knowledge of various types of computer systems.

    Working knowledge of multi-line telephones, fax machines, printers, copiers, and computers.

    Excellent customer service and communication skills.

    Ability to extract clinical data from the medical records, reporting accurate vital statistics to the State of Georgia.

    Ability to work under pressure and stress.

    Ability to meet deadlines and work on a strict schedule to provide good service.

    Ability to complete the work assigned and to follow through.

    Ability to follow established procedures.

    Ability to multi-task, organize time and work, setting priorities daily in order to accomplish work.

    Ability to read and write in order to pull records and to communicate verbally and in writing with other departments.

    Ability to obtain Notary Republic licensure.

    Ability to use good judgement and make reasonable decisions at all times.

    A thorough understanding of the function of Health Information Services.

    Physical Demands

    Visual ability to read document and from a computer. Verbal communication skills to speak with staff, patients, and visitors. Auditory ability to hear staff, visitors, and families, via telephone and in person. Manual dexterity to use a computer and software packages, pens, pencils, etc. Ability to move about the organization and campus.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find records clerks 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 records clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit records 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 records 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 records clerk

    Once you've found the records clerk candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    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.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new records clerk. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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 a records clerk?

Recruiting records clerks 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.

Records clerks earn a median yearly salary is $29,795 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find records clerks for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $11 and $18.

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