How to hire a student assistant

How to hire a student assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step student assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a student assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The student assistant 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 student assistant 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 student assistants.

   Type of Student Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Student Assistant	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$8-17
   Student Employee	Student employees are students who have a job within a school campus. Their duties may include working in the classrooms, cafeterias, and dorms... Show more	$8-15
   Student Worker	Student workers are students who are employed while also enrolled at the university. They usually work in a department or college where they handle different tasks... Show more	$9-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Front Desk
   • Administrative Assistance
   • Financial Aid
   • PowerPoint
   • Office Equipment
   • Computer Lab
   • Scheduling Appointments
   • Alumni
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Mathematics
   • Clerical Tasks
   • Windows
   • Word Processing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help troubleshoot public computers according to directions and also manage database of library.
   • Adhere to all aspects of FERPA and student confidentiality guidelines.
   • Answer phone, run errands, take messages, help office manager
   • Order, open and distribute office supplies weekly, and run errands.
   • Clean and stock supplies in restrooms, wash windows, walls and fix light fixtures.
   • Perform CPR during emergency rotation.

   More student assistant duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, student assistants' average salary in alabama is 31% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level student assistants earn 54% less than senior-level student assistants.
   • Certifications. A student assistant 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 student assistant's salary.

   Average student assistant salary

   $12.23hourly

   $25,439 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level student assistant salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average student assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$29,037	$14
   2	New Jersey	$28,929	$14
   3	California	$28,886	$14
   4	Pennsylvania	$28,761	$14
   5	Washington	$27,681	$13
   6	Arizona	$26,218	$13
   7	Colorado	$26,162	$13
   8	Ohio	$25,457	$12
   9	Michigan	$24,542	$12
   10	Illinois	$23,576	$11
   11	Virginia	$23,029	$11
   12	Alaska	$22,689	$11
   13	Texas	$22,282	$11
   14	Missouri	$21,953	$11
   15	Florida	$21,937	$11
   16	North Carolina	$21,908	$11
   17	Kansas	$20,938	$10
   18	Wyoming	$20,655	$10
   19	Indiana	$20,651	$10

   Average student assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research	$78,888	$37.93	5
   2	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$73,531	$35.35
   3	Pace University	$55,463	$26.66	19
   4	Columbia University in the City of New York	$45,914	$22.07	21
   5	UC Merced	$41,131	$19.77
   6	University of California-Berkeley	$40,609	$19.52	1
   7	San Francisco University High School	$35,291	$16.97	6
   8	UC Santa Barbara	$34,556	$16.61
   9	State Bar of Michigan	$33,881	$16.29	6
   10	University of Washington	$33,616	$16.16	2
   11	National Park Foundation	$33,375	$16.05
   12	John Wiley & Sons	$33,092	$15.91
   13	Dallas College	$32,099	$15.43	5
   14	Greenfield Union School District	$32,094	$15.43
   15	University of California	$32,017	$15.39	12
   16	Oregon Health & Science University	$31,887	$15.33	7
   17	Target	$31,731	$15.26	1
   18	Lawndale Elementary School District	$31,610	$15.20	3
   19	New York State Restaurant Association	$31,283	$15.04
   20	Covenant College	$31,263	$15.03	3

4. Writing a student assistant job description

   A good student assistant 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 student assistant job description:

   Student assistant job description example

   Primary Responsibilities:
   Receive, sort, and distribute mail to department and student mailboxes Process outgoing mail brought to Campus Mail Room by departments Sign for, receive, sort, and distribute packages delivered by DHL, FEDex, & UPSDeliver and pick up mail & packages from all locations Deliver packages to departments, staff, and faculty Distribute packages to students through package tracking system Cover any duties of Mail Room Coordinator when applicable (Professional staff out sick, vacation, etc.) Perform daily office tasks such as answering phones, handling walk-ins and greeting customers Perform other duties as assigned
   
   Basic Function:
   
   Provide support to the Mail Room Coordinator by assisting with the day to day tasks that need to be accomplished in order to keep the Campus Mail Room and the University functioning as effectively and efficiently as possible.
   
   Required Education/Experience/Skills:
   Must be ethical person with strong values of integrity Excellent customer service and communication skills Strong work ethic Clean driving record and capable of driving University Vans
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   Previous experience in Mail Room or Postal setting preferred
   
   Minimum Qualifications:
   Enrolled Full-time in Saint Leo University's Undergraduate Program
   
   Physical Demands:
   Ability to Lift Packages weighing up to 50 lbs
   
   Why Work at Saint Leo?
   
   What it's Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they'd use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world. Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!
   
   We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).
   Inclusive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, Vision) Group Health Plan features include Teledoc, Surgery Plus!, Wellness Incentive Program, Nationwide Pet Insurance, just to name a few!Health Reimbursement Account (University Paid!) and Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare and dependent options) Tuition Remission (Employee, Spouse, and Dependents)*Tuition Exchange opportunity for dependent of employees*Paid Personal Leave (Sick, Vacation, Holidays)403b - Annual match 3%-9% of pay based on employee's contribution. University match and fully vested within one month of hire date.Basic Life and AD&D Insurance valued at 30k (University Paid!) Income Protection Benefits after one year Additional options for supplemental insurance
   
   *Eligibility based on meeting required service period

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right student assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with student assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit student assistants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your student assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit student assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit student assistants, 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.

   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 student assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the student assistant 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.

   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 student assistant. 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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