Field interviewers conduct calls and in-person visits with diverse populations across the nation to gather survey feedback for research with far-reaching implications, including health care, employment, and education.
Our data empowers legislators and others involved in setting policy to make informed decisions for the welfare of all Americans.
The interview is the basic tool by which we are able to provide this data and the interviewer is the one who makes it all possible.
Are you looking to do meaningful work conducting survey research in the field? Do you need flexible, part-time work hours with competitive pay?
To join our Field Department as a field interviewer or field manager, please view our job listings.
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Field Interviewers at NORC
Our interviewers make an impact for decision makers nationwide.
Benefits of being a field interviewer include:
- Meeting new people
- Hearing diverse perspectives
- Seeing American from different points of view
- Facing new challenges
Want to learn more about what it's like to be a field interviewer? This video provides a firsthand look at the meaningful work that drives our mission forward.
FAQ
Field interviewers tell us how much they enjoy meeting new people, hearing diverse perspectives, and seeing America from different points of view. If you are curious about the world around you, are open to meeting new people, and like facing new challenges, this may well be the job for you.
Field Interviewers are the foundation of our nationwide survey research operation. They talk to people from every conceivable walk of life—either by telephone or in person—to obtain information on issues that will affect social policy. The people being surveyed, who are called respondents, are chosen through a complex scientific sampling procedure. Interviewers administer carefully developed, field-tested questionnaires to respondents. These questions will either be printed, on laptop computers or other digital devices. Interviewers are responsible for protecting respondents’ privacy by keeping their answers confidential. Interviewers also keep records and report out on their work, usually through weekly calls to a field manager.
Field Interviewers are paid at a starting rate determined by their geographical area and their qualifications. They are paid on an hourly basis for all authorized time on an assignment, and reimbursed for all necessary expenses such as mileage, postage, and telephone calls. Their work is monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis. At the end of the year, interviewers in good standing may receive an increase in pay in accordance with their performance and NORC’s guidelines for that year.
Work hours for field interviewers are scheduled according to the demands of NORC’s individual project deadlines. However, they may set their own work schedule, within certain limits. Interviews must frequently be conducted in the evenings and on weekends—or whenever the respondents are most likely to be at home and available. The amount of work depends on the specific assignment and how much time NORC has available to do the interviewing it has been contracted to conduct. Expect the schedule to be extremely variable. Some months there may be no assignments. In other months Interviewers are asked to work 20 hours per week or less. Sometimes they are even asked to work 40 hours in a given week.
All newly hired field interviewers receive general training. In addition, each research project requires several hours of study at home and/or attendance at a project training session (often in another city). NORC pays expenses for these training sessions. Interviewers must successfully complete all required training as a prerequisite to continued employment.
Retirement Benefits
After 1,000 hours of service and attainment of age 21, you will become eligible to participate in the NORC, Inc. Retirement Plan. The NORC, Inc. Retirement plan is a defined contribution retirement plan in which NORC may make a discretionary contribution on behalf of employees who have satisfied the eligibility requirements to participate in the plan and have met the service requirements in a particular year. No employee contributions are required in order to qualify for a contribution from NORC. Contributions are immediately vested (fully owned by the employee) and are deposited into an individual retirement annuity account administered by TIAA. You control how the money is invested.
The NORC, Inc. Supplemental Retirement Plan allows employees to make voluntary, pre-tax contributions immediately upon hire, up to the IRS limit, and is also administered by TIAA. Contribution limits may be higher for individuals over age 50. See the Summary Plan Description for details.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Provided by Magellan Health Services, the EAP program offers employees and their dependents, (including significant others and dependent children who live at home) telephone counseling on personal issues such as stress, domestic abuse, alcohol and drug dependency. They also offer referrals for services like child care, elder care, legal advice, and credit counseling. The plan is confidential and free of charge. Brochures describing the services offered are available from the Human Resources department.
Worker’s Compensation
NORC provides employees with a safe workplace and pays the premiums for state-funded insurance that provides income replacement to workers who suffer workplace illnesses and injuries. Employees are required to report any workplace injuries or illnesses immediately to Human Resources.
FICA Taxes
NORC pays the employer’s portion of taxes on the income that you earn.
Unemployment Insurance
NORC pays the insurance premiums for state-funded insurance benefits that employees may receive if unemployed and unable to find work.
Interviewing people for survey research has much to offer—in terms of challenge, interest, flexibility, and a chance to be part of important work. While interviewing is rarely boring, it can be challenging. Most survey respondents are cooperative and delighted to participate in a survey, but others will be challenging to meet with or talk to. You must feel comfortable knocking on strangers’ doors, in various communities. Field interviewing work is mainly performed during the evenings and weekends, when respondents are most likely at home. The job involves considerable clerical work, which must be performed with meticulous care. Interviewing is not part-time work in the traditional sense.
Our Field Interviewers are self-motivated, assertive, reliable, outgoing, and personable people who appreciate a flexible work schedule and are looking for interesting part-time work.