Uncle Sam wants to pay you $13 an hour for census work

I wish I lived in China right now - because then I can block this website from my employees - none of whom are paid $13/hour. They should be paid at least $13/hour, but the market in this area really doesn't allow for that pay level.

I know certain people will say that $13 per hour isn't even enough for a family of 3 to live above poverty level and that some fellow that hasn't had a job since September of 2009 is using the money he's making as a respectable census worker to pay for his daughter's much needed braces so little Suzie has a higher self-esteem and can do better in school causing her to 'hang' with the good crowd which is actually a savings to the community since she won't be knocked up and living on welfare - and back to the fellow with no job - I'm sure we'll count his job as a job 'created' by the administration.

Basically, we need to pay the people working for the government the same amount that the people in the private sector are making. This is the fair thing to do.

Its a 4 or 5 week gig at best. No benefits, and minimal hope of securing permanent employment. Thats why $13 an hour. Your prep cook making $10 an hour is better off. They have a secure position.

I worked for the Census in 2000 and it's longer than 4 or 5 weeks Bud. It takes a while to train all of the door to door workers. I was the second highest position in Livingston County and worked for about 4 months. I made enough money in that four months to pay for my siding and new windows for my home.

It's been the normal ten year interval for the Census but I think it comes at a perfect time to help a lot of people through a rough time and I would encourage anyone who is interested to apply for it.

I was 24 when I worked for the Census 10 years ago and if I could, I would do it again. Oh, by the way I still worked my other job while I did the Census and the money was so appreciated, for at the time we were struggling to renovate our home and make it livable.

Posted by Sean Valdes on February 1, 2010 - 9:25pm
and back to the fellow with no job - I'm sure we'll count his job as a job 'created' by the administration.

These jobs are offered every 10 years. Most intelligent people realize that it is a short term gig and have no expectations of anything more.
By "the administration", I take it you are referring to Obama's administration. Were you equally upset with this short term position, and pay, when the Republicans were in office?

Mary- I took the test last month, as I want to return something to my country. That time estimate was provided by the facilitator. A week of training, then about 4 weeks for the assignment. I think the economic climate plays different this time. In 2000, I don't think we had near the number of people interested in the job as we do today in this unemployment quagmire we are in. I was dumbfounded by the number of applicants taking the test at the same time that I was.

I usually don't chime in on comments, however, I worked the last census. It is work. You really earn your money if you are honest & capable. I am not a forward personality to go door to door and knock. Some older folk just need help understanding. Unfortuntely, it's scary how many opened their doors & welcomed a stranger in with out looking at your federal ID. Others, I had them talking to me till they found out I was with the Census. She literally set her dogs on me. (I thought about calling police as you are a Federal employee). We go into bad neighborhoods, have people slam doors in your face, etc. We try the same residence 5 times before another person is is given that household to try at. Being cursed at each time isn't fun.
All we really need to know is how many people live at that address. Your voting representatives, federal aid, etc are based on these numbers. This structure has been in place since 1700's. If your unwilling to tell them just that, you should never have the right to complain about your government. You can make a difference for the next 10 years.

Hi Bea,

Yes, I was. $13 is too much. Also, while I'm not sure of the circumstances here, but it is common practice to have different pay levels for each area of a state. Example - NYS Dept of Tax & Finance worker in Buffalo area level 1 auditor may make $36K, but the Albany person same job will make $45K. Same thing can be said for court clerks and most other government workers. I wonder if the NYC census people are making $15-$20/hour?

I think this is just one more indication that the government really is out of touch with how most American people live.

Sean,

Jeneen knows what she is talking about. The door to door workers earn every penny of that $13.00/hr. It is very tough work. People can be real jerks and finding some of these houses can be brutal. Some of our guys spent hours finding houses off the beaten path and some of the maps don't even have a house listed on them. Talk about frustrating!

Bud, that could be...things are definately different than they were 10 years ago.

Sean, $13 an hour is too much? Like you said yourself -- this is not even living wage territory. That's why most census takers have a primary job or are retired. The census jobs require a written test before any consideration. The census only takes the top scores and the recipients know that the job is temporary. Who do you presume would come out for a temporary job that pays minimum wage that they can only qualify for if they score in the 90+ percentile?

I left a skilled manufacturing job 20 years ago. My pay was almost $10 per hr back then. How can anyone in the year 2010 think that $13 per hour is too much?

Just do it now instead of looking for a part time job at Christmas.

Exactly my point Lorie. $13/hour for a government part-time temporary job. How can we justify paying that amount of money to what equates to a "temp" job when there are many, many families working in factories paying $9-10/hour at their permanent full time job and still not making ends meat. I don't discredit the Census workers and the job they do - EVERY job is hard work. EVERY job is frustrating. EVERY person feels underpaid - all of that is a given - the question is - should part-time taxpayer funded government workers be paid more than a significant portion of the population in which they serve?

Govt: "Hello, is Mr. Jones home?"
Jones: "Speaking"
Govt: "Mr. Jones, this is your U.S. Government. How are you?"
Jones: "Well, a little tired right now, I just got home from work. Can I help you with something?"
Govt: "Mr. Jones, we need your help. We need to borrow some more money."
Jones: "More money? What happened to the money I sent you from my paycheck Friday?"
Govt: "That's already gone sir. But don't worry - we're going to be putting money back into your community so in essence, it won't be as bad."
Jones: "Back in my community, how?"
Govt: "Well, we will be hiring Census workers and paying them $13/hour, that should help local unemployment, and if you'd like sir, you could apply also for a little second income."
Jones: "A second job - I barely make it through my first job and see my kids. And you're paying them $13/hour??"
Govt: "Yes sir, they have to have a living wage."
Jones: "But I'm only making $10/hour, less health insurance right now and we're living ok - nothing great but we get by. How can they make $13/hour?"
Govt: "Sir, a census job is hard, frustrating work. Somedays they're yelled at. People are rude to them. And sometimes people don't have numbers on their houses. See what I mean sir?"
Jones: "Click"

I don't understand the need for a census. They already have an accepted tally from 10 years ago. Add in the number of births and immigrants since then and subtract the deaths and emigrants from this country. This should be easy since everyone is issued an SS# at birth and "deceased person" tax filing is recorded at the end of every tax year.

Why do we need government Jehovah's knocking on our door trying to convert us to the religion of statistics? What difference does it make what race, color or ethnicity a person is and where they live? We're all supposed to be equal. Don't bother knocking on my door, you won't get an answer.

In the last census, I filled out the questionnaire and dropped it in the mailbox. My ancestry is English, Dutch, French, Norwegian..etc..but I wrote down that I was Native American because I was born here. They already have access to my birth certificate, SS number, drivers license, passport, pistol permit, draft registration and finger prints.

They don't need to bother me anymore. When they get my last tax filing as deceased, they can scratch me off the list. Until then I'm still here so I don't need to do more work FOR them and I don't like having to pay for another useless service.

Janeen Hicks, I couldn't disagree more with the last thing you said. Federal aid doesn't drop out of Obama's butt. It comes from people who pay taxes. Let the people keep a larger share of their money and the areas they live in wouldn't need Federal aid. People want to take care of themselves, not to be taken care of. Less government interference is the best way to go.

If someone keeps knocking on my door 5 times when I've told them to leave, I just might get pissed off, too. The federal government already knows who lives where. The FEDERAL POSTAL SYSTEM know who gets mail at every address. In this digital day and age, you don't need to go door to door anymore.

You can't take the right away from me to complain about government intrusion or ineffectiveness. I vote, have always voted and have always been registered to vote. I registered for the draft. I've always worked and paid my taxes. I have the right to say what I want about every level of government.

I have yet to read many of the comments but I would like to note the following:

20 years ago, I was finishing up college and worked nights for the census bureau. I was paid $10/hour and worked in the comfort of the bureau office separating returned forms into stacks of 50 and scanning each label code into a computer with a light pen. It was a nice second job and a welcomed no-brainer after a long day of studying and another job.

In 20 years, the pay is now $13/hour for this particular position - and the employee must drive his/her own car to the homes of strangers who for one reason or another refused to fill out the census form and return it? Are they crazy? If they don't want to fill in the bubble with a pencil and stick it in the mailbox, how well will the $13/hour employee be received at many, many of the homes?

The Israelites had to travel long distances on foot with their entire family thanks to the Roman governors - back to their 'home' cities. Maybe we should all walk to D.C. in order to be counted? No, not a good idea.

I don't mind if I am counted as the government knows where I live, who lives in the home, the style of home, how old it is, how many sq. feet, how much we make, what we pay in taxes, etc. The redundancy is a bit cumbersome to say the least. The only real positive I can see is that future generations will be able to look back and see relatives documented - of course that is what the birth, death, voter registration and driver's licenses are for - right?

OK Sean, what would you propose the pay should be? $13 an hour is not hitting the job jackpot. While it may be a jackpot for anyone that needs that job. Where you will find Federal paychecks that are exorbitant is the paydays for Blackwater and Haliburton employees. I can guarantee you they're getting much fatter checks than the census worker.

Mr Jones just got a federal tax cut last year, by the way, along with 95% of Americans. And if the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans are allowed to expire as Obama promises maybe Mr Jones can carry even less of the burden.

Kelly just laid out what she made 20 years ago. Doesn't even sound like they've adjusted for the cost of living.

"[An] Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct." Congress first met in 1789, and the first national census was held in 1790.

So if Mr Jones doesn't like the census or paying census workers have him ring up the founding fathers.

Employees at Blackwater and Haliburton are highly educated and technically skilled professionals, comparing them to someone ringing a doorbell to ask few questions is meaningless.

Richard, some do laundry and cook.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=131644&page=1

And Richard ya wanna know what KBR charges us to do 1 load of laundry for 1 GI? $100.
http://thehive.modbee.com/node/8240

Jeez everyone relax! The point of the original post is that there are job openings for the Census. JOBS! Jobs are good remember? :) If you don't want to open the door to the Census employee that's fine. But if you were struggling to make ends meet and someone told you that for a few weeks you could make a few extra thousand bucks and you could still work at your normal job you would be grateful.

Mary, you missed the point. They are griping because someone who might need the money is willing to take the test and work for a few weeks.
The key word is "need" and they aren't about to give anyone who "needs" a break.
You might be working on your Masters and taking this job, but unless your money is coming from the government and you are a "highly educated and technically skilled professional" you don't deserve the opportunity. After all, you are just ringing door bells.
It's ironic that many, here, preach that people should make their own way. Yet, when the opportunity comes up, they will put you down.
Typical of the "it is all for me" generation.
That job may only last a month or two, but for someone reinventing themselves after losing a job; or about to enter the labor market, it is an addition to a resume'.

Bea wrote, "They are griping because someone who might need the money is willing to take the test and work for a few weeks."

Quote that from one other person's post? Prove that statement, Bea.

Not even Sean has expressed any resentment toward people taking a job. He's complaining about A) taxpayers funding a particular job; B) Comparing it to what private sector can afford to pay and suggesting that it puts private sector employers who might dip into the same-level talent pool at a disadvantage.

Your statement above is a complete distortion of what anybody has said.

Bea wrote, "It's ironic that many, here, preach that people should make their own way. Yet, when the opportunity comes up, they will put you down."

Again, a complete distortion of any position anybody has taken.

Nobody has put anybody down for taking a job.

People are complaining about the government spending more taxpayer money and questioning the value of that expenditure. That strikes me as a legitimate question.

However, for the record, I think the census, even in these more automated times, is a valuable civic, sociological and statistical exercise that serves not only governmental requirements but provides data extremely helpful to businesses, and therefore the economy. While I can't provide the stats to support my assumption, I do believe the ROI justifies some hourly wage above minimum. I've no heartburn over $13 an hour.

So I'm not necessarily defending the critics, just point out, Bea, they're not saying what you say they're saying.

FYI. Once we knock on the door twice, we leave a card. Sign it& leave it on door, or just tell us you refuse, we are done with this address for good. People sitting inside with tv look out window & won't even bother with that. They are told that from the first time.