Required Qualifications to be a Census Taker

You may qualify to be a census taker if…

• You are able to read, write, and speak English.
• You are a U.S. citizen.
• You are a legal permanent resident, or non-citizen with an appropriate work visa, and you possess a bilingual skill for which there are no available qualified citizens.
• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have a valid Social Security number.
• You take a written test of basic skills.
• You have a valid driver's license (for field jobs only).
• You pass a background check.
• You commit to 4 days of training. You will be paid for these days at your regular hourly rate. Training can be held either during daytime hours or during evening and weekend hours.

Note: Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with Selective Service.

Bilingual speakers are encouraged to apply!

All census takers must be able to speak English, but bilingual skills in English and other languages are needed in communities that have a large number of residents who speak a language other than English. If you have such skills, we encourage you to apply.

What is in the employment test?

The employment test consists of 28 multiple-choice questions designed to measure the basic skills and abilities required to perform a variety of census jobs. These include clerical skills, reading, number skills, interpreting information and evaluation alternatives, and organization skills. You will have 30 minutes to complete the test, and you may retake the test if you would like to improve your test score.

Download a practice test.

What is the background check?

The background check is a review of all police and other government records to be sure you do not have a criminal record.

What identification do I need?

See the list of approved forms of identification to learn more.