What Does an Intake Interviewer Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does an intake interviewer do?

Interviewers, except eligibility and loan, interview people by phone, mail, in person or other means to gather information for forms, records or surveys. The median pay is $45,920 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow -10.4% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$45,920
$22.08/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-10.4%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
13,200
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS classification
Time to train
A few weeks on the job
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
153,600
Employment, 2025

What intake interviewers do

Intake interviewers gather information that starts a process. They register hospital patients, conduct survey interviews, collect details from callers seeking services, verify insurance and enter data accurately. They work in healthcare, research firms, social service agencies and government.

A high school diploma and short training are typical. BLS projects a decline, though healthcare intake roles remain common.

Typical duties

Interview clients or patients
Complete forms
Verify identity and insurance
Enter data
Answer questions
Schedule services
Keep information confidential

Work environment and schedule

Interviewers work at hospital desks, call centers and agency offices.

Schedule: Full or part time, including evening and weekend shifts in hospitals.

A day in the life

7:30 AMOpen the registration desk.
8:00 AMRegister morning patients.
9:30 AMVerify insurance.
11:00 AMCall survey respondents.

See a full day in the life of an intake interviewer →

Intake Interviewer salary

Half of intake interviewers earned more than $45,920 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $33,900 for the lowest 10% to $62,810 for the top 10%.

$33,90010th$45,920Median$62,81090th

Full intake interviewer pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become an intake interviewer

Finish high school
Build typing skills
Get hired
Learn systems
Advance

A high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training are typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming an intake interviewer →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Interviewing
Data entry
Insurance verification
Medical terminology
Scheduling

People skills

Courtesy
Patience
Accuracy
Discretion

All intake interviewer skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

No degree needed
Short training
Helping people start services
Entry to healthcare

Cons

Declining employment overall
Repetitive
Upset or stressed people
Shift work

Certifications and licenses

CHAA: Certified Healthcare Access Associate.
HIPAA training: Required in healthcare.
Medical terminology course: Helpful.
Customer service training: Helpful.

Career path

Intake Interviewer: Entry.
Patient Access Specialist: Lead intake.
Patient Access Supervisor: Lead teams.
Patient Access Manager: Run departments.

Learn the job before day one

Our Intake Interviewer training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as register a patient without errors and conduct a neutral survey interview, safety and how to land your first job.

View Intake Interviewer training Is this career right for me?

Receptionist

Greet visitors, answer phones and keep the front desk running smoothly.

$38,010
1–2 weeks on the job

Medical Administrative Assistant

Run the front office of a clinic or hospital unit: scheduling, check-in, insurance and records.

$45,930
3–12 months

Customer Service Representative

Help customers solve problems by phone, chat and email, and keep them coming back.

$44,770
2–6 weeks (paid training)

Eligibility Interviewer

Interview applicants and decide who qualifies for public benefits.

$54,210
1–12 months on the job

Compare: Intake Interviewer vs. Receptionist · Intake Interviewer vs. Medical Admin Assistant · Intake Interviewer vs. Customer Service Rep · Intake Interviewer vs. Eligibility Interviewer

Intake Interviewer FAQ

Do intake interviewers need a degree?

No.

Where do they work?

Hospitals, research firms and social service agencies.

Is the job declining?

BLS projects decline overall.

How much does an intake interviewer make?

The median annual wage for intake interviewers was $45,920 ($22.08 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,900 and the highest 10% earned more than $62,810.

How long does it take to become an intake interviewer?

Most people need about A few weeks on the job of training. A high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training are typical.

Do you need a degree to be an intake interviewer?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 43-4111 (Interviewers, except eligibility and loan).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Interviewers, except eligibility and loan (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Intake Interviewer