The U.S. Census Bureau is actively seeking employees to conduct its 2010 census.

“There are so many job opportunities now and coming up,” said Sydnee Chattin-Reynolds, deputy regional director of the Kansas City Regional Census Center. “It’s a huge effort and a great opportunity economically for the community.”

Positions available range from census takers to management, with salaries ranging from a low of $11.50 to a high of $27.25, depending upon one’s experience and the position one is hired for. Jobs will be needed to complete the census through 2010.

Chattin-Reynolds said currently the regional office is looking to fill recruiting assistant positions, paying $16.75 an hour, and clerical staff positions, paying $11.50 an hour. Although census workers and field supervisors will not begin work until spring, applications also are being accepted for these positions. Positions are up to 40 hours a week.

The Kansas City Regional Census Center supports census efforts in six states: Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Arkansas and Oklahoma. A local office on Pershing Road in Kansas City is slated to open late fall.

Outreach efforts are underway to inform the public about the upcoming census.

“We want to educate the public that the census is coming,” Chattin-Reynolds said.

Field staff will begin canvassing residences in spring 2009 to verify addresses. Census questionnaires will be mailed in spring 2010, so people will have the opportunity to complete the forms and return them to the census office. Two mailing opportunities will be given before census takers follow-up, door-to-door, with non-responders.

“When people mail back information, it saves the government money and the information provided is more accurate,” she said. “It’s also a less intrusive process.”

Chattin-Reynolds said all census takers are required to wear a visible, official badge listing name and the U.S. Department of Commerce logo.

“If a person has any question about a census taker’s identity, they can call us and we’ll verify their identity,” she said.

Census workers are assigned a geographic area and are in frequent contact with a field supervisor.

Special efforts also will be made to count people without homes, Chattin-Reynolds said, with bureau members working in conjunction with local governments and organizations.

“We work with those who have already developed trust with individuals without homes. Our constituents are fully aware of and embrace what we do,” she said. “We also will go to people without homes -- under bridges, in parks -- wherever they are, we go. The goal is to get everyone counted.”

Chattin-Reynolds said that an accurate census is “critical” in the distribution of government money to communities and in redistricting efforts for political representation.

“Over $300 billion is distributed in the U.S. annually,” she said. “We want everybody to have an opportunity to have their fair share of those dollars that go to fund local programs.”

Individuals interested in applying for a job with the U.S. Census Bureau are asked to call, toll-free: 1-866-861-2010, to make an appointment. Applicants will be asked to take a 30-minute basic skills test and may take the test more than once.

To download an application to bring with you to your testing appointment, go to www.census.gov/kansascity. Applications also can be filled out when you take the test. Bring two forms of identification because a background check will be required.

Chattin-Reynolds said she has found that many employees believe working for the Census Bureau is more than a “just a job.”

“Not only are they getting a paycheck but they feel like they’re giving back to the community,” she said. “They feel like it’s their civic duty.”