MEPS – Field Interviewer

About the role

Westat is seeking Field Interviewers for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a study of health care costs and usage in the United States sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). MEPS is a panel survey with several rounds of interviews over two calendar years. Field Interviewers conduct in‑person and computer‑assisted video interviews with adult household members using a Westat‑provided laptop, contact households in‑person or by phone to introduce the study, set appointments, complete interviews, and collect signed documents.

Responsibilities

• Contact assigned households in‑person and/or by phone to introduce MEPS and gain cooperation.
• Set appointments and conduct in‑person and computer‑assisted video interviews.
• Complete interviews and collect electronic and hard‑copy signed documents.
• Transmit electronic data daily on work days.
• Comply with all data security and confidentiality requirements.
• Attend mandatory training (web‑based home study, in‑person, and post‑training virtual sessions).
• Travel to local and occasionally long‑distance households, including overnight stays as needed.

Requirements

• Be 18 years or older (or an emancipated minor) and able to enter binding confidentiality agreements.
• Complete mandatory web‑based home study training (including Microsoft Teams video sessions) between January 4 and January 15, 2027.
• Attend mandatory in‑person training on January 19, 2027, and complete the five‑and‑a‑half‑day session from January 20‑25, 2027.
• Complete additional web‑based/virtual training and post‑training home study between January 26‑31, 2027.
• Reside in and travel within project‑designated areas to contact assigned households.
• Be available to work the data collection period from January 2027 through December 2030.
• Work a minimum of 20 hours per week when work is available, mostly evenings and weekends, with limited daytime work.
• Meet physical requirements: lift/carry 20 pounds, walk several blocks, climb stairs while carrying equipment.
• Have consistent access to a fully insured, reliable vehicle meeting Westat’s minimum insurance coverage and a current, valid driver’s license not under suspension.

Qualifications

• In‑person interviewing experience and/or computer‑assisted video interviewing experience.
• Public contact and/or cold‑calling experience.
• Comfort working in unfamiliar locations, knocking on doors, and communicating with people from diverse backgrounds.

Benefits

• Health and welfare payment of $5.35 per week (up to 40 work hours), which may be reduced based on group benefit election.
• Paid vacation and holiday leave based on hours worked.
• Sick leave accrual based on hours worked.
• Eligibility to participate in the 401(k) program (employer matching dependent on hours worked).
• After accumulating 1560 hours from September through September of the following year, become eligible for health insurance and an HSA, with coverage beginning January 1 of the year after eligibility is satisfied.
• Eligible for overtime pay (non‑exempt position).

Pay

The hourly pay rate ranges from $22.22 to $23.68, determined by the work location.

Schedule

• Part‑time, variable‑hour position.
• Two data collection periods each year: January – mid‑July and late July – early December.
• Break between rounds: typically 1‑2 weeks between spring and fall rounds; approximately a month between fall and spring rounds.
• Expected minimum of 20 hours per week when work is available, mostly evening and weekend hours, with limited daytime work.
• Hours may vary based on caseload; there may be weeks with less than 20 hours of work.