How to hire a student employee

How to hire a student employee, step by step

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

What does a student employee do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the student employee you need to hire. Certain student employee 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

   Hiring the perfect student employee 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of student employees and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Student Employee	Description	Hourly rate
   Student Employee	General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.	$8-15
   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
   Clerk	Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Food Safety
   • Financial Aid
   • Front Desk
   • Food Preparation
   • Public Facilities
   • Office Equipment
   • HR
   • Computer Lab
   • Alumni
   • Food Service
   • PowerPoint
   • CPR
   • Mathematics

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage club documents and advertise several events through Facebook.
   • Install structures and fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, and trim.
   • Instruct in helping students who struggle with mathematics.
   • Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs using Photoshop.
   • Create posters promote special guest speakers visiting CNM using Photoshop.
   • Coordinate college recruitment activities at career fairs, high school scholarship awards and specific industry requests.

   More student employee duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, student employees' average salary in new mexico is 42% less than in colorado.
   • Seniority. Entry-level student employees 47% less than senior-level student employees.
   • Certifications. A student employee 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 student employee's salary.

   Average student employee salary

   $11.58hourly

   $24,086 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level student employee salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average student employee salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$29,598	$14
   2	Alaska	$29,223	$14
   3	New York	$27,670	$13
   4	Massachusetts	$26,426	$13
   5	Illinois	$26,397	$13
   6	California	$24,449	$12
   7	Oregon	$24,160	$12
   8	Michigan	$23,753	$11
   9	Virginia	$23,744	$11
   10	Indiana	$23,741	$11
   11	Utah	$22,971	$11
   12	Florida	$22,926	$11
   13	Pennsylvania	$22,863	$11
   14	Missouri	$22,587	$11
   15	Texas	$22,213	$11
   16	Kentucky	$20,878	$10
   17	Oklahoma	$20,625	$10
   18	South Carolina	$20,177	$10
   19	Puerto Rico	$18,621	$9
   20	New Mexico	$17,178	$8

   Average student employee salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of California-Berkeley	$35,423	$17.03
   2	United States Steel	$31,579	$15.18	47
   3	Banfield Pet Hospital	$29,096	$13.99	31
   4	Winston Industries	$28,384	$13.65
   5	Salem-Keizer Public Schools	$28,110	$13.51	3
   6	Tenet Healthcare	$28,062	$13.49	19
   7	Covenant College	$27,826	$13.38	3
   8	Bridgewater State University	$27,574	$13.26	1
   9	Bedford Public Schools	$27,218	$13.09
   10	Metropolitan State University of Denver	$26,203	$12.60	3
   11	Lancaster General Health	$25,836	$12.42
   12	Church Of Jesus Christ Inc	$25,584	$12.30
   13	Regent University College Of Science And Technology	$24,695	$11.87	41
   14	Waukesha County Technical College	$24,549	$11.80
   15	University of Michigan	$24,444	$11.75	4
   16	Terra State Community College	$24,400	$11.73
   17	University of Georgia Small Business Development Center	$24,394	$11.73	88
   18	Appalachian Regional Healthcare	$24,106	$11.59	1
   19	Missouri State University	$24,091	$11.58	3
   20	PSEA	$24,029	$11.55	6

4. Writing a student employee job description

   A student employee 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 student employee job description:

   Student employee job description example

   General office and administrative duties, data entry, answering incoming phone calls, placing outbound calls to prospective students and families, scanning (imaging) and digital filing of student documents, prepping materials for distribution to prospective/incoming students, and assisting with campus tours when student ambassadors are not available.
   DUTIES AND TASKS:
   The position is multifaceted. Responsibilities include but not limited to:FRONT DESK/RECEPTION: Answer phones, greet visitors and assist with general questions. Maintain lobby appearance & restocking supplies.CLERICAL/ GENERAL OFFICE ASSISTANCE: Assist with data entry, imaging/scanning and digital filing of student documents, organizing materials, mailing packets to prospective and new students, and other clerical tasks as assigned.GENERAL SUPPORT: Assist admissions staff with various tasks and projects.CAMPUS TOURS: Student employees may be asked to assist with campus tours to prospective students and their families.CALL CAMPAIGNS: Reach out to prospective students to discuss questions, upcoming events, and their application.REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge:Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.Skills:Attention to detail and accuracy.Willingness to learn new systems and skills.Abilities:Professional, energetic, and courteous individuals who enjoy interacting with students, parents, and staff.Reliable with professional demeanor.Represents the University in a professional manner.Ability to multitask and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.Must maintain strict confidentiality.Additional Office Information:Approval for Federal Work Study required.Casual business attire required.General office hours are between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Students may only work during these hours, occasional Saturday hours may be required for campus admissions events and campus tours.ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of this position.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and University, handle various type of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.NOTICE:The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success.
   
   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

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right student employee 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 student employee job on Zippia to find and recruit student employee candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with student employee candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 employee

   Once you've found the student employee 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 student employee. 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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