How to hire a research clerk

How to hire a research clerk, step by step

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

What does a research clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The research clerk 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect research clerk also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of research clerks.

   Type of Research Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Research Clerk	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations. They record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.	$12-18
   Payment Processor	A payment processor is responsible for managing and informing the clients of their payment obligations for the services offered by a financial institution or other related organizations. Payment processors record transactions and ensure the timely completion of account statements... Show more	$12-20
   Clerk Typist	A 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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Telephone Inquiries
   • Customer Accounts
   • Financial Institutions
   • Subpoenas
   • Exception Reports
   • Legal Research
   • Client Satisfaction
   • Telephone Calls
   • EOB
   • Customer Inquiries
   • PowerPoint
   • Bank Statements
   • NSF
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
   • Re-created personal and commercial bank statements as requested by customers or in compliance with court-issu subpoenas.
   • Process work to the proof operators to encode checks.
   • Assist tellers in posting all deposit slips and withdrawals in NCR machine
   • Balance deposits make by customers, micro encode checks & deposit slips.
   • Create accounting worksheets and post entries for 3rd party lockbox, credit card settlements and product billing.

   More research clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your research clerk job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A research clerk salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, research clerks' average salary in west virginia is 44% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level research clerks earn 33% less than senior-level research clerks.
   • Certifications. A research clerk 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 research clerk's salary.

   Average research clerk salary

   $15.70hourly

   $32,652 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level research clerk salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average research clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$35,876	$17
   2	Maryland	$34,676	$17
   3	Hawaii	$33,457	$16
   4	Arizona	$32,589	$16
   5	Utah	$29,877	$14
   6	Ohio	$29,801	$14
   7	Texas	$29,730	$14
   8	North Carolina	$29,680	$14
   9	Tennessee	$27,189	$13
   10	Florida	$26,771	$13

   Average research clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Novant Health	$35,400	$17.02	5
   2	Cass Information Systems	$34,177	$16.43	1
   3	Bashas'	$33,808	$16.25	48
   4	First Hawaiian Bank	$32,883	$15.81	1
   5	Kelly Services	$32,859	$15.80	63
   6	CrossCountry Freight Solutions	$32,833	$15.79
   7	Inmar	$32,794	$15.77	3
   8	My Florida Regional Mls	$32,387	$15.57
   9	Envision Healthcare	$32,265	$15.51
   10	Robert Half	$31,933	$15.35	579
   11	Dorsey & Whitney	$31,655	$15.22
   12	Randstad North America, Inc.	$31,438	$15.11	21
   13	Academy Sports + Outdoors	$30,757	$14.79	13
   14	Florida Department of Transportation	$28,537	$13.72

4. Writing a research clerk job description

   A research 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 research clerk job description:

   Research clerk job description example

   1st Shift from $13.50/ hour
   
   Hours: 1st Shift Monday-Friday 6:00 am-4:00 pm; flexibility for Saturday work
   If you have not applied online, please apply before coming for a face to face interview at: www.inmar.com/careers / Schedule may change depending on the department you may be assigned
   
   INTERVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED from 9:00 am-3:00 pm (1st Shift) Monday - Thursday
   INMAR
   3845 Grand Lakes Parkway
   Grand Prairie, TX 75050
   
   Position Summary:
   Under the minimal supervision of the Supervisor, Production and in collaboration with the client and other team members, the incumbent performs detailed, routine clerical work of an analytical and client-service nature. Typical duties include day-to-day communications with clients regarding processed data, system functionality, and file maintenance questions and issues. The incumbent will coordinate the flow of data information between the client, Inmar Reverse Logistics and the vendor. The incumbent should be knowledgeable in all Company services and reporting capabilities, and be able to use the system independently.
   
   Primary Accountabilities:
   Operational (80%):
   Prioritize SLA accounts Issuing RA's for product returns to manufacturer clients in a timely and accurate manner Manage inbound returns to prioritize RA Issuance based on customer requirements Maintain detailed, accurate files and records Work efficiently and accurately in an atmosphere of frequent interruptions Prioritize and manage multiple tasks requiring extensive timely follow up and completion of all projects Adhere to prescribed routines and practices Proceed independently and carry out assignments to completion with minimal instruction Communicates with installation and programming staff to resolve data issues.Receive and respond to client requests and inquiries.Work with the client to develop, refine and maintain new processes, per the client's specifications.Responsible for facilitating the return authorization process for product held in Company centers for return to supplier.Responsible for written and oral communication with client in order to resolve issues.
   Initiates internal correspondence requiring action from other department.Drafts appropriate internal & external correspondence regarding issues, analysis and follow-up.Initiates telephone calls and conference calls with internal and external contacts to clearly communicate information.
   Analytical (10%):
   Determine appropriate reports to be used for ad hoc client requests.
   Influence (10%):
   Work closely with vendors and the reclamation centers to ship and track product to be returned to the vendor.Work closely with manager and other team members, performs special projects as required to maintain assigned accounts.
   
   Required Qualification:
   High School diploma or its equivalent with a minimum of one (1) year experience in the logistics, manufacturing, trucking, or warehouse industry; or any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the responsibilities of this position0-2 years experience Proven interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to delegate and prioritize work.Bilingual a plus but not required30 minute lunch, M-FOvertime potential Competent with Google SheetsCompetent with Scanner, Fax, and basic office equipment Competent with Internet/company Websites/InformixCompetent with Microsoft Suite
   
   Individual Competencies:
   Analytical Thinking/Reasoning: examines data to grasp issues, draw conclusions, and solve problems.Customer Support Needs: Resolve issues in a timely manner Flexibility: Fast paced environment; maintain focus with frequent interruptions Attention to detail: Ability to identify correct product match to client Problem solving: Ability to resolve box receipts with 0 to minimal information in a timely manner Communication: Ability to communicate effectively via phone and email correspondence Self-starter/motivated: Ability to prioritize work and accounts on a daily basis, with minimal supervision
   
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the major job responsibilities (essential functions) of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the major job responsibilities. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.
   
   While performing the duties of this job, the associate is:
   Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands or arms.Regularly required to talk or hear and read instructions on a computer monitor and/or printed on paper.Regularly required to stand, kneel or stoop, and lift and/or move up to ## pounds.Regularly required to view items at an extremely close range and must be able to adjust and readjust focus.
   Safety:
   Support a safe work environment by following safety rules and regulations and reporting all safety hazards.
   
   As an Inmar Associate, you:
   Put clients first and consistently display a positive attitude and behaviors that demonstrate an awareness and willingness to listen and respond to clients in order to meet their short-term and long-term needs, requirements and exceed their expectations. Treat clients and teammates with courtesy, consideration and tact; you also have the ability to perceive the needs of internal and external clients and communicate effectively with the objective of delighting and retaining the client. Build collaborative relationships and work cooperatively with others, inside and outside the organization, to accomplish objectives, develop and maintain mutually-beneficial partnerships, leverage information and achieve results. Set and attain achievable, yet aggressive, goals with a sense of urgency and accountability. Understand that results are important and focus on turning mission into action to achieve results following the principles of Flawless Execution while consistently complying with quality, service and productivity standards to meet deadlines and exceed expectations by giving our clients the best possible outcome.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right research clerk 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.

   To find research clerk candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting research clerks requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 research clerk

   Once you've found the research 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.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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How much does it cost to hire a research clerk?