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How to hire a records custodian

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

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

How to hire a records custodian, step by step

To hire a records custodian, 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 a records custodian, you should follow these steps:

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

    Before you post your records custodian job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a records custodian for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

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

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

    Here's a comparison of records custodian salaries for various roles:

    Type of Records CustodianDescriptionHourly rate
    Records CustodianMedical records and health information technicians, commonly referred to as health information technicians, organize and manage health information data. They ensure its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper and electronic systems... Show more$15-29
    Health Care AdministratorA health care administrator is primarily in charge of overseeing the daily administrative operations of medical and health care facilities. They are responsible for setting objectives, establishing guidelines and employee schedules, maintaining accurate records, gathering and analyzing data, developing strategies to optimize operations, and coordinating with nurses, physicians, patients, and other health care experts... Show more$23-45
    Health Information TechnicianA health information technician is primarily responsible for managing and handling patient information, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. They coordinate with various health care workers to gather patient data, laboratory results, test findings, and medical histories, encoding them in clinical databases in a timely and efficient manner... Show more$12-21
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Scheduling Appointments
    • Criminal Justice
    • Subpoenas
    • Hippa
    • HIPAA
    • Patient Charts
    • Law Enforcement Agencies
    • Computer System
    • Notary
    • Front Desk
    • Patient Care
    • Medicaid
    • Retention Schedules
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage transition from in-house transcription system to outsource transcription service.
    • Maintain HIPAA compliance by researching changes in laws and formats.
    • Gather patient records in response to subpoenas receive for client records.
    • Retrieve requested patient information according to HIPPA guidelines through microfilm and HBOC system.
    • Perform all duties as medical records clerk and prepare records for subpoenas and depositions.
    • Copy and release all records to other facilities while following the policies of HIPPA.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your records custodian job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A records custodian salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, records custodians' average salary in arkansas is 46% less than in maryland.
    • Seniority. Entry-level records custodians earn 48% less than senior-level records custodians.
    • Certifications. A records custodian 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 records custodian's salary.

    Average records custodian salary

    $44,533yearly

    $21.41 hourly rate

    Entry-level records custodian salary
    $32,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025
  4. Writing a records custodian job description

    A good records custodian 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 records custodian job description:

    Records custodian job description example

    CIG is a 35+ year young sub-prime auto finance company specializing in helping dealers and consumers to achieve the mutually desired outcome of financing the purchase of a car or truck. CIG has staff in two offices, Irvine, CA and Fort Lauderdale, FL, as well as staff working from home and a sales team in the field. As we grow, we are seeking motivated, hardworking, dedicated, and eager to learn individuals to join our team in different areas of business in both our offices and remote. If you like to work hard, have fun, and learn, then we want you to have the career you have been looking for! CIG looks forward to you joining our family today! To learn more about CIG and our leadership team please visit www.cigfinancial.com and take a look at all things “About Us”.


    POSITION SUMMARY

    This position is responsible for providing mail room and file room services in support of various business functions. The individual will gather, prepare and process daily releases of paid in full contracts and vehicle titles, daily general outbound correspondence, and filing of new customer contract packages. This position is also cross-trained in imaging services.

    This position reports to the Vice President of Quality Assurance. This position will work in close conjunction with the Records Custodian II. This position provides services to other departments, including Customer Service, Title Administration, and Funding.

    The successful candidate is self-directed in work prioritization, highly organized and detail-oriented, and demonstrates superior judgment-making ability within the scope of the position’s areas of responsibility. The associate will perform all duties in accordance with CIG Financial policies and procedures and all state and federal regulations.

    ESSENTIAL DUTIES

    • Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Records File Room.
    • Works closely with other team members to ensure all aspects of records tasks are completed .
    • Perform various Mail Center activities (sorting, metering, folding, inserting, delivery, pickup, etc.).
    • Maintains mail/records room in a neat, tidy manner.
    • Stocks copiers/printers with paper and envelopes.
    • Maintain files and imaged records so they remain updated and easily accessible.
    • Sort, organize and scan a high volume of documents for all company departments.
    • Using PC image scanners, scans various types of records and documents.
    • Perform various file-pulling projects and purging projects throughout the year.
    • Sends out and requests time sensitive (electronic and paper) documents.
    • Assists Records Custodian II in the custodial review process.
    • Communicate to departments when files are incomplete or otherwise need attention.
    • Perform special projects or other related work as required or requested.

    ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILL & LICENSES:

    • Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
    • Strong analytical and communication skills.
    • Ability to operating mailing, copying and image scanning equipment.
    • Ability to work under time constraints and daily deadlines.
    • Ability to adjust to procedural changes and volume shifts.

    EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

    • Minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent.
    • Previous work experience in an office mail room environment is preferred. Prior document imaging or proof reading experience is a plus.

    MACHINES, OFFICE EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

    • Web navigation and/or web-based applications.
    • Personal computer: Imaging software, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Excel skills must be mid- level to advanced.
    • 10-key calculator and QWERTY keyboard skills.
    • Scanner, copier, mail postage machine and other general office equipment.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS

    ☒ This position requires sitting for long periods of time (up to two hours without break).

    ☒ This position requires use of a keyboard for long periods of time (up to two hours without break).

    ☒ This position requires other specific physical demands, described below:

    ☒ Physical Demand: Ability to lift boxes____________ Amt./Frequency: 35 LBS / Daily

    SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

    • Does this job have supervisory responsibilities? ☒ No ☐ Yes
    • Are there subordinate supervisors reporting to this job? ☒ No ☐ Yes - How many None
    • How many employees report directly to this job? None
    • How many employees, in total, report directly or indirectly to this job? None

    Company Benefits

    • Medical, dental and vision benefits
    • Life insurance paid for by company
    • Additional life insurance and other insurance policies available
    • 401K
    • Paid sick and vacation time
    • Employee discounts available for many major retailers


    EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

    CIG Financial is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under local, state, or federal law.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find records custodians 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 custodian job on Zippia to find and recruit records custodian 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 custodians, 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.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    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 custodian

    Once you've selected the best records custodian 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.

    To prepare for the new records custodian 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 a records custodian?

There are different types of costs for hiring records custodians. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new records custodian employee.

You can expect to pay around $44,533 per year for a records custodian, 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 records custodians in the US typically range between $15 and $29 an hour.

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