What is a census taker and how to become one

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A census taker is a professional who collects and records data for the census, a periodic count of a population. Their duties include canvassing homes, conducting interviews with residents, and recording responses on paper or digital forms. They explain the purpose of the census and ensure confidentiality. Census takers may also verify household addresses, maintain detailed reports, and conduct quality control checks. They often receive training to effectively interact with diverse populations and adhere to strict guidelines and laws.

How long does it takes to become a census taker?

It typically takes 1-2 years to become a census taker:

Score Census Taker US Average

Avg. Salary $38,585

Avg. Salary $59,228

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.00 %

Asian 5.28 %

Black or African American 12.62 %

Hispanic or Latino 18.59 %

Unknown 5.42 %

White 57.10 %

Gender

female 61.79 %

male 38.21 %

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00 %

Asian 7.00 %

Black or African American 14.00 %

Hispanic or Latino 19.00 %

White 57.00 %

Gender

female 47.00 %

male 53.00 %

Age - 39

Stress Level

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

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Census Taker career paths

Census takers often move into assistant roles, including executive assistant positions. They may also become teachers or consultants. Some go on to manage a team or center, or even become partners in a business.

Key steps to become a census taker

Explore census taker education requirements

The educational requirements for a census taker are not strict, with most census takers having a high school diploma or some college education. According to the data, 42.42% of census takers have a high school diploma, 17.08% have a certificate, and 39.34% have an associate's degree. Only a small percentage have a bachelor's or master's degree, and none have a doctorate. As for majors, census takers come from a variety of educational backgrounds, including business, accounting, psychology, computer science, and health care administration. Some of the top schools attended by census takers include Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, Maine Maritime Academy, and University of Southern California.

Most common census taker degrees

High School Diploma

Start to develop specific census taker skills

Census takers need to collect and record data accurately. They must also communicate well with residents and explain the purpose of the census. They are also responsible for maintaining records and tracking their daily progress.

Skills Percentages
Confidentiality Laws13.01%
Census Bureau12.92%
Paper Forms9.59%
US Census7.93%
Conduct Interviews7.77%

Complete relevant census taker training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New census takers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a census taker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real census taker resumes.

Research census taker duties and responsibilities

Census takers are responsible for collecting information for the national census. They achieve this by canvassing homes, conducting interviews with residents, and explaining the purpose of the census. They also review the collected data for completeness and accuracy, and report any challenges in obtaining valid data.

Prepare your census taker resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your census taker resume. You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a census taker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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