How much does an interviewer make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical interviewer in the United States makes $45,920 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
An interviewer may call or meet people, ask set questions, and enter their answers on a form or computer. They check for missing or conflicting answers, clarify them, and report completed work to a supervisor.
Did you know? Some U.S. Census Bureau interviewers ask the same household questions eight times over 16 months—not just once.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $33,900 and $62,810How do you become one?
In the U.S., most employers ask for a high school diploma or equivalent. New interviewers usually learn through on-the-job practice and guidance from experienced workers; listening well, speaking clearly, and recording answers accurately are useful.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like keeping things organized and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, location, and the kind of employer, such as a hospital, college, or survey firm. Work hours and duties matter too; pay differs across industries and places, and more complex tasks can pay differently.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($56,880), lowest in Alabama ($34,180).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $33,900 | $45,920 | $62,810 | about 148,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $56,880 | about 22,000 |
| New York | $55,410 | about 9,000 |
| Washington | $51,090 | about 3,000 |
| Oregon | $50,730 | about 2,000 |
| Massachusetts | $50,340 | about 3,000 |
Official definition: Interview persons by telephone, mail, in person, or by other means for the purpose of completing forms, applications, or questionnaires. Ask specific questions, record answers, and assist persons with completing form. May sort, classify, and file forms.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/43-4111.00
- www.careeronestop.org/Videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=43411100
- www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cps/data.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes434111.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY