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Bill and account collectors: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$47,030median pay per year, or $22.61 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $34,400lowest 10% earn less
  2. $39,01025th percentile
  3. $47,030median
  4. $56,74075th percentile
  5. $65,580top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[6]

Bill and account collectors, a group that includes patient access specialists[1], earned a median of $47,030 a year in May 2025[2]. BLS projects the number of jobs to fall 10.4% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations grow 3.5%[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
-10.4%[3]
Openings per year
11,200[7]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[8]

How much do bill and account collectors make?

The median wage was $47,030 a year, or $22.61 an hour[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher at $49,060 a year, or $23.59 an hour[9]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[6], so this job sits a bit below the national middle.

The range is fairly wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,400, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $65,580[5]. The 25th percentile was $39,010 and the 75th was $56,740[5]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $16.54 and the 90th was $31.53[10]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes these boundaries instead of a starting salary[11].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12]. About 158,830 people held these jobs in May 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median at $62,230, followed by Alaska at $60,810 and Massachusetts at $59,800[14]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $37,680[14].

Texas had the most jobs at 21,720, then California at 13,880 and Florida at 13,180[15]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $77,360, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA was next at $72,430[16]. The metro area with the most jobs was Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX with 8,950 and a median of $47,790[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[14]$62,230240
Alaska$60,810310
Massachusetts$59,8002,510
California$57,93013,880
Connecticut$57,930900
Vermont$57,63080
Hawaii$53,570180
New Jersey$52,5103,310
Rhode Island$52,000370
Oregon$50,880830
Colorado$50,0901,670
Maryland$50,0102,090
Minnesota$49,5802,860
Wisconsin$49,0902,570
Maine$48,890410
Nevada$48,7502,350
Washington$48,4602,260
Kentucky$48,3301,740
Illinois$48,1405,080
Arizona$47,7406,300
New York$47,1708,800
Michigan$47,1302,990
Delaware$46,680990
North Dakota$46,660270
Pennsylvania$46,6606,680
South Dakota$46,6201,120
New Mexico$46,560440
Florida$46,41013,180
Georgia$46,3005,280
Ohio$46,2306,620
Iowa$46,000830
Kansas$45,7601,350
Texas$45,71021,720
Montana$45,420640
Indiana$45,2402,690
Utah$45,2402,430
Oklahoma$44,8201,740
New Hampshire$44,4501,120
West Virginia$43,960670
Virginia$43,7704,590
Nebraska$43,210730
South Carolina$43,1404,430
North Carolina$42,9105,460
Wyoming$42,110180
Idaho$41,880510
Missouri$41,7603,770
Tennessee$40,9203,890
Alabama$40,3302,090
Louisiana$39,1301,690
Arkansas$39,110850
Mississippi$37,6801,150

How to become a bill and account collector

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education, with no work experience in a related job and moderate-term on-the-job training[8].

In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 48% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 27% named some college courses, and 21% named a bachelor's degree[21]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

Useful traits include clear communication, patience and empathy, attention to detail, careful listening and negotiating skill[22][23][24][25][26].

What bill and account collectors do

These workers contact people whose accounts are overdue and work out how the debt gets paid[27]. Typical tasks, based on O*NET, include:

Where they work

Many collectors work in call centers run by third-party collection agencies instead of by the original creditor[29]. Business support services was the largest employer group at 25%[30]. Much of the day can be spent on the phone, with computers and databases used to log results[29].

The work can be stressful, because some people get angry when pressed about debts, and collectors need to handle rejection and stay polite[31]. Full-time work is the norm, and some people work shifts that include evenings or weekends[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 10.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 160,200 jobs to 143,400, a loss of 16,700[3]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[4]. These counts include self-employed workers, and only 0.3% of collectors were self-employed in 2025[33]. The May 2025 wage-and-salary count counts jobs differently[13][3].

BLS names productivity change as a factor. Automated collections software lets the same work be done by fewer people[34].

Even so, about 11,200 openings a year are projected[7]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[7]. Each year 3.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with a low barrier to entry. A high school diploma is typical, and training happens after hiring[8]. Pay is near but below the all-occupations median[2][6]. The projected decline is a real consideration, and O*NET's related office occupations also show projected declines[36]. The phone-based work can be stressful[31], so it may suit people who stay patient under pressure[23][31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bill and account collector make an hour?
The median was $22.61 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $23.59[2][9]. The 10th percentile was $16.54 and the 90th was $31.53[10].
What education do you need to be a bill and account collector?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and on-the-job training[8].
Is bill and account collecting in demand?
BLS projects employment to fall 10.4% from 2025 to 2035[3], though about 11,200 openings a year are expected[7].
Which state pays bill and account collectors the most?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $62,230, then Alaska at $60,810[14].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 43-3011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Account Representative, Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist), Collection Agent, Collection Specialist, Collector, Debt Collector, Patient Access Specialist, Patient Account Representative. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bill and Account Collectors in the US was $47,030 per year and $22.61 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Bill and Account Collectors is projected to decline 10.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 160,200 to 143,400 jobs (a change of -16,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bill and Account Collectors: 10th percentile $34,400, 25th percentile $39,010, 75th percentile $56,740, 90th percentile $65,580. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 11,200 openings for Bill and Account Collectors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Bill and Account Collectors: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Bill and Account Collectors was $49,060 per year and $23.59 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Bill and Account Collectors: 10th percentile $16.54, 25th percentile $18.76, 75th percentile $27.28, 90th percentile $31.53. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 158,830 people were employed as Bill and Account Collectors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. Median annual wage for Bill and Account Collectors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Bill and Account Collectors jobs: Texas 21,720; California 13,880; Florida 13,180; New York 8,800; Pennsylvania 6,680. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Bill and Account Collectors (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $77,360; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $72,430; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $61,640; Anchorage, AK $60,430; New Haven, CT $60,330; Visalia, CA $60,310; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $59,800; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $59,330. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Bill and Account Collectors jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 8,950 (median $47,790); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,650 (median $57,440); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,210 (median $54,370); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 5,140 (median $47,740); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 4,660 (median $44,670); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,990 (median $46,870). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 43-3011.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 48%, Some College Courses 27%, Bachelor's Degree 21% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Bill and Account Collectors. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Bill and Account Collectors. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of bill and account collectors in 2025: Business support services 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: 0.3% of Bill and Account Collectors were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Bill and Account Collectors: Productivity change - share decreases as automated collections software allows the same amount of collections work to be done with fewer human collectors. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Bill and Account Collectors: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.