Bill and Account Collectors
SOC code 43-3011 · O*NET-SOC 43-3011.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Bill and Account Collectors pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$47,030
a year
Hourly
$22.61
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$49,060
$23.59 per hour
Middle 50%
$39,010 – $56,740
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$34,400 – $65,580
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
158,830
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $34,400
- $16.54/hr
- 25th percentile
- $39,010
- $18.76/hr
- Median percentile
- $47,030
- $22.61/hr
- 75th percentile
- $56,740
- $27.28/hr
- 90th percentile
- $65,580
- $31.53/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-10%
Declining
166,900
jobs in 2024
149,400
projected for 2034
About 17,500 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do bill and account collectors do?
Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visit to solicit payment. Duties include receiving payment and posting amount to customer's account, preparing statements to credit department if customer fails to respond, initiating repossession proceedings or service disconnection, and keeping records of collection and status of accounts.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
- Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment.
- Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
- Arrange for debt repayment or establish repayment schedules, based on customers' financial situations.
- Advise customers of necessary actions and strategies for debt repayment.
- Answer customer questions regarding problems with their accounts.
- Persuade customers to pay amounts due on credit accounts, damage claims, or nonpayable checks, or to return merchandise.
- Confer with customers by telephone or in person to determine reasons for overdue payments and to review the terms of sales, service, or credit contracts.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 48% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)48%
- Some College Courses27%
- Bachelor's Degree21%
- Less than a High School Diploma2%
Common questions
How much does a bill and account collectors earn?
The national median is $47,030 a year. The full range runs from $34,400 at the 10th percentile to $65,580 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a bill and account collectors without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is bill and account collectors in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 10% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Writing3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Mathematics3.3/5
- Economics and Accounting3.3/5
- Law and Government3.3/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
- Administration and Management3.1/5
- Administrative3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Negotiation, Service Orientation.