Anyone ever work for the US Census?

[fofinia]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone has ever worked the US Census? The 2010 Census will be hiring soon. They all ready are in some areas. http://www.census.gov/2010census/

They say they offer competitive wages. I was wondering what exactly competitive wages mean? Is it minimum wage? Here in Mass. Minimum wage is around $8. Anyone have any idea about it?

Also any past experiences you would like to share, I would love to hear them.

 

[Pembo]

I looked at the website, if you go to the Find Your Local office section it will tell you the pay range. $10-16 in Cleveland Ohio

 

[pearlieq]

My aunt used to do it. She enjoyed the work, thought they were very flexible, and they paid about $10/hr several years ago, so the money was good.

 

[Straitlover]

I had a friend who worked for I think the 1990 census as some kind of supervisor. Worked good for her (she was temporarily out of a job). Best thing to her was when they closed up the office, she got all kinds of leftover office supplees for free (pencils, notepads, etc)!

 

[PatsMom]

My mother worked for the 2000 census and thought it was great. They paid decent, the hours were very flexible. She had just retired and wasn't quite ready to be retired (downsizing at her factory forced her out early). Working part time for the census made a great transition for her. She is thinking about doing it again in 2010. She said it was a great job for retired people - there were many others besides her.

 

[LanaJae]

I worked on the 2000 census. I think I made $12-something per hour. You also get paid for training, which I think was about 10 hours.

If I did it again, I would end my employment before the last wave of canvassing because that's the point when you have to repeatedly go to people's homes and/or ask their neighbors for info. This can get scary as those are usually people who have major issues with the government and take it out on the census worker.

Census forms are mailed to everyone and the majority of people fill out their form and mail it back. This job is getting the information from those who didn't send their forms back. Most people either forgot or filled it out and didn't mail it, those are the easy ones. Then there are people who couldn't be bothered to do it, but will answer the questions (either in person or on the phone) while you fill out a form for them. The next group of people are those that are mad because they received the "long" form, and often you can get permission to do a short form for them. The rest of the people (a very small group) are the ones who refuse to provide any information.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I worked for a Special Census in the late 1990's. It was a very flexible and fairly easy job. It also paid well, and since I was in college at the time, that was a major plus!!

 

[dyna]

My mom did for many years at one time was temporary for over 20 yrs I think (at least 15 yrs I know) as it turned out anytime there was a lay off she was in the right place at right time so to speak or was able to transfer to where there was still going to be work.

Something others has not mentioned is the added benefits of annual leave (personal leave days oh an that can be used by the hour say you have a dr appointment you can use 1 hour of leave an not have to take a whole day an get paid for it) an sick days so many hours is given each pay period along with the paid vacations also depends on how long you been on the job an the government holidays (the days their is no mail) almost always weekends off I know the census office in Indiana has a 4 day work week option now or most can still work 5 days a week if they chose to do so.

There's a few benefits you don't normally get with a job...

 

[dis2cruise]

when working for the census is it an office type job or do you need to go door to door to peoples homes who don't fill out their census??

 

[thewesterberg]

I worked the 2000 census. Did the training, and then went door to door talking to people. It was okay, sometimes had to go to some sketchy places. I did it for awhile after I quit my job at Target but I didn't stay too long with the census as I got a job in my field. It was an okay job, but not really for me. That's about all I remember about it.

 

[plaidsmom1]

I worked for the census in 1980 (telling my age) and enjoyed it. I worked in the office tabulating responses. Certainly not stressful or hard to do. I am sure this is now done by computers. ANyway, worth looking in to.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I worked for the 2000 Census and then took a full time job with them for 2 years after that. I really enjoyed, but it involved a lot of driving. I am looking to work the 2010 again though. Atleast with that there is a beginning and an end. They are easy to work for and I meet a lot of nice people. Just realize that people do not really understand what the census is about and they think you are gathering info to report them to "big brother". Those people can get a little hard to deal with.
It is a good job and it pays by the hour and mileage.

 

[Straitlover]

when working for the census is it an office type job or do you need to go door to door to peoples homes who don't fill out their census??

I believe they have different positions. My friend who did it worked in the office as a supervisor. She did not go to people's homes.

 

[8 Ears]

For those that have been on the census site, does it bog your computer down? Even as I type this I am way ahead of the print

 

[fofinia]

Thanks for the replies everyone. $10 -12 an hour seems to be the consensus. Not sure if I would want to go to people's doors. But I hate to go through the interview process and find out it only pays minimum wage.

 

[mickeysaver]

Yes, I was an enumerator back in 1990. It paid well at the time, but then again, a lot of the work was done so quickly that there just were not enough hours to keep me busy. I had to go out of town for training for 3 days and was told that I was over qualified and should have applied earlier to a higher level position. I was a college drop-out with little job experience outside of working summers in a warehouse and doing security at my college dorm. How that made me overqualified, I will never know.

Anyway, it was a fun experience. I would consider doing a government job again.

 

[Ishy]

My pay was 16.25 an hour. Going door to door, there were dramatics within our little group - we were chased off of property by police without anyone to back us up (we had the law on our side but our supervisor didnt stick up for us and the police were on a power trip about us tresspassing) and I was threatened and spit on.

I did it part time, I have a very good job full time, but wanted the extra $$$ for my new house and it was the year everyone got engaged, married, asked me or the kids to be in a wedding party, and a small baby boom in the family... AND that was the year I had a major dental problem (a cyst on my sinus's but they did 2 full molar root canals with post and crowns before they figured out my problem was not my teeth and then oral surgery to remove the cyst) - more $$$$ --- I was out of my mind on pain killers half the time and overloaded on antibiotics and working like mad just kept my mind off all my worries - I needed out of my apartment and into a house for my kids.

I did very well, left notes on doors or my number with the people that were too busy to talk --- told everyone they could call me 24-7 and trust I would only take the information needed - and I would quit bothering them... in the next phase I would be required to get as much info from neighbors anyway.

The bad places we got permission to go out in pairs - for safety.

Everyone should do it - just to get a full understanding of what it is all about I would like to do some of the early stuff this time just to save some cash. I am worried about the economy.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I know that this is an thread. I'm thinking about taking the test tomorrow night for a census job. My area is $8-$12 an hour. I don't know if I want the office position or the enumerator job - may not get a choice. I've been a stay at home/retired wife for 3 years. DH got laid off and may have to take a job for half the pay. I need to add some $ to the mix. I really don't want to do full time but could handle it if I knew that it was short term. Or the enumerator sounds good because of the flexibility.

Does anyone know if the office job getting the higher pay?
How long does the job normally last? 10 weeks? 20 weeks?

Any new info? Anything else to add or opinions?

 

[kgle]

I am interested in this...in my area the pay starts out at 13.25/hr. I have to quit my job at the end of the year due to nursing school, but if this is a flexible position it would be great for me. Would you start at the beginning of 2010 or would there be work this year? Man I would love to quit my job if I could find something earlier than the beginning of next year. I am also curious as to how long you are employed for.

 

[kimsuenew]

Thanks for the replies everyone. $10 -12 an hour seems to be the consensus. Not sure if I would want to go to people's doors. But I hate to go through the interview process and find out it only pays minimum wage.

Our local news (Ohio) just ran an announcement regarding available Census jobs and it stated $10.00 and that there were two types of available jobs (clerk and actual census taker). Due to my mobility challenges, the clerk type position is the only one I could do. I called and there is a mandatory test that all people have to take before hiring (which I surmise is not really challenging, they said it was simple math and other questions). I did not take the test yet, still considering it (applying for a job)! Good luck!