The United States Census Bureau conducts surveys on the governments, population, economy, and localities in the country. Enumerators (or census takers) work for the Census Bureau and do research. They canvass their allocated areas for household and demographic statistics. The findings of enumerators must be properly documented and reported as this information is significantly valuable for administration of every state. In this way, a mistake that results in a city’s population being undercounted by 100 individuals results in a serious loss of a state’s revenue. That is why the quality of the training is so important; census enumerators must understand how inhabitants are classified in an official capacity and how they must be counted.
Terms of Employment
It is important to keep in mind that Census enumerators’ positions are temporary. They may not be hired on a regular basis because the US Census Bureau requires this information every ten years in order to generate this demographic profile. It may be done every five or ten years, depending on the sort of census. For instance, every ten years, a population and housing census is conducted. As for the work schedule, census takers will be assigned based on when they indicate they are available, and their hours are flexible. Enumerators can expect to work part-time, usually in the evenings and on weekends when residents of cities are at home.
Requirements
Candidates must be United States citizens aged 18 or older and pass a federal background check, and applications who are bilingual are in high demand. Veterans may be eligible for preferential treatment in the recruiting process. Moreover, applicants should be registered in the Selective Service System or have a qualified exemption, and pass a criminal background check and review of criminal records, including fingerprinting, conducted by the Census Bureau.
Enumerators’ Duties
Census takers are in charge of confirming household addresses and assuring the accuracy of all maps and address lists. They fix any inconsistencies they find in the census data. They could be sent to a unit that is vacant or no longer deemed a household, for example. Enumerators must also leave a notice of their visit in inhabited but vacant homes at the time of their inspection. All census data, as well as documentation of the census taker’s hours, miles, and expenses, is sent to the United States Census Bureau.
Census takers complete their tasks in a specified area; they usually start by going over their designated field and mapping out an effective path. Enumerators go to designated households and conduct interviews with residents once a route has been devised. They must identify themselves and assist people in filling out census forms. Also, they may be called upon to assist residents by reading census papers and answering inquiries.
Besides, census enumerators must be effective conversationalists because they interview people almost every day throughout the duration of the census project. At this point, they must be attentive listeners with the ability to process information quickly and properly. Enumerators for the census must also conduct some administrative tasks, such as preparing reports and performing small financial tasks.
Benefits Package
Census data is used to better understand our country, including its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. The United States Census Bureau conducts surveys on almost every element of life in the country. It is widely regarded as the world’s premier statistics institution, with a reputation for data integrity, objectivity, accuracy, and privacy. Besides, the Census Bureau is authorized to collect objective statistical data as the foundation for an elective government system and as a tool for corporations, municipal planners, non-profit organizations, and individual Americans to make educated decisions.
Working as an enumerator and, hence, being a valuable member of the Census team, is an opportunity to be a part of this process of better understanding and developing the country and its residents. In addition, enumerators have access to a number of standard government benefits, including a range of health insurance plans, a retirement plan, long-term care insurance, life insurance, and a thrift savings plan.
The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) can assist you and your family in meeting your health-care needs. In case if you live space or workplace is within the plan’s service area, you can choose from “plans that offer catastrophic risk protection with higher deductibles, health savings/reimbursable accounts and lower premiums, or Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans, or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)” (United States Census Bureau, 2021). Thus, federal employees, retirees, and their dependents have access to the most comprehensive health-care options in the country.
Furthermore, enumerators have an opportunity to use a Phased Retirement plan. It allows full-time employees to work part-time hours while drawing retirement benefits. Managers will be able to better provide unique mentoring opportunities for employees with this new tool, while also boosting access to retirees’ decades of institutional knowledge and expertise (United States Census Bureau, 2021). This retirement plan happens to be effective for the government, economy sphere and an individual, using this opportunity.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are meant to address individual, team, and organizational issues and are available to all managers, employees, and their families. Counseling and support services are available for: “Stress management, work-related issues, caregiver support such as elder and child care, career management, family and marital issues, health and mental health issues, bereavement, addictions and compulsive behavior, financial and legal issues” (United States Census Bureau, 2021). It is significant to notice that this program is a valuable opportunity and working as an enumerator for the Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau has much leeway when it comes to providing extra remuneration and leave benefits to help with employee recruitment, relocation, and retention. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is in charge of the Federal government’s pay and leave regulations and programs. After all, it is the responsibility of each Federal agency to manage pay policies and programs for its own personnel in accordance with the law and regulations, as well as OPM’s rules and instructions.
Moreover, the Census Bureau offers you an opportunity to choose to become a participant in the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS). FSAFEDS allows its members to save money for health care expenses with a Health Care or Limited Expense Health Care FSA. Think of it as a savings account that helps you pay for items that typically are not covered by your FEHB Plan, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, or other health insurance coverage (United States Census Bureau, 2021). Additionally, the Dependent Care FSA allows you to set aside money to pay for your day care expenses.
Compensation
Compensation is an important factor in the job searching process, however, the enumerator job has its specific features. According to the United States Census Bureau United States Census Bureau (2021), there are has six regional offices: Atlanta, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York. Wages vary by location, duties, and cost of living; for example, the United States Census Bureau reported hourly pay in Mississippi ranging from $13.50-$17.50 to $14.50-$18.00 in Oregon in 2019 (United States Census Bureau, 2021). Enumerators’ income varies depending on the region or location where they work, however it can reach $30 per hour (United States Census Bureau, 2021). The information about salary mainly depends on the state; therefore, every regional office provides more specific information about the compensation.
In this way, according to United States Census Bureau official website, the average salary for a Census Enumerator in the country is $38,000. The average bonus for a Census Enumerator is $629, or 2% of their annual income, with 100% of employees indicating that they receive a bonus every year. Census Enumerators earn the most in Washington, DC, with an average total compensation of $45,210, which is 19% higher than the national average. Statistically, Census Enumerators earn between $20,520 and $51,152 a year in the United States, with a median wage of $38,627. The median salary for Census Enumerators is $38,627 to $42,645, with the top 86 percent earning $51,152.
In 2018, the average federal tax rate for an individual filer in this tax bracket is expected to be 12 percent. After subtracting a federal tax rate of 12 percent, Census Enumerators may expect a take-home salary of $33,630 each year, with each paycheck equaling around $1,401 (United States Census Bureau, 2021). Based on the presented statistics of the average amount of money, earned by Census enumerators, it is possible to make a conclusion that this position allows employees to earn a high-paying salary. Plus, all of the presented benefits that become available for enumerators.
Conclusion
To conclude, the position of enumerator in the United States Census Bureau is a unique job that allows workers to participate in the process of county development and play an important part of the governmental work. Further, this position offers many valuable benefits that can help a worker in a various aspects of life. The salary is different in other states; enumerator is a high-paid job, averagely. Although, people can only be hired timely on this position, it is important to understand that it is a part of the development process.
References
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Benefits and perks. Web.