Logo Careeronestop
careeronestop
GetMyFuture
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
A proud partner of the american job center network.

Occupation Profile
Bill and Account Collectors

What do they 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.
Typical interests of people in this field:
Conventional, Enterprising, Social

Take an interest assessment
View Help

What does this information tell me?

This description can give you a quick overview of what you might do if you worked in this job.

“Typical interests of people in this field” shows the main types of interests related to this occupation, based on categories from the Interest Assessment. You’ll see one, two, or three “interest types” that are strongest for the occupation.

You can read more about these interest types and learn more about your own interests by taking the Interest Assessment.

You can use this information to see if this career might be a good match for what you are interested in and like to do. 

What is the source of this information?

The occupation description and the related interests come from O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

Collapse Help

Also known as

  • Account Representative
  • Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist)
  • Collection Agent
  • Collection Specialist
  • Collector
  • Credit Clerk
  • Debt Collector
  • Patient Access Specialist
  • Patient Account Representative
  • Telephone Collector
View Help

What does this information tell me?

This is a list of other names for the occupation you selected. Sometimes different employers, industries, or parts of the country use different names for the same career.

You can use these names as substitutes for the career name when you’re looking for more information online or searching for job postings.

What is the source of this information?

These alternate titles come from O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

Collapse Help

Career video

https://reentry.careeronestop.org/CDN/OccVids/OccupationVideos/43-3011.00.mp4
Transcript:The art of negotiation is a critical skill for bill and account collectors… who develop agreements with people in debt to repay their creditors… on terms both parties can live with. Bill and account collectors generally spend most of their time on the phone, tracking down or negotiating with debtors. Listening, and paying attention to his or her concerns can help the collector negotiate a successful solution. Collectors follow federal and state laws, and must document their calling using computers and databases. Bill and account collectors follow up to ensure payments are actually made… if not, they let the creditor know, which may result in legal action. Collectors usually have the added pressure of meeting calling goals and success rates. Many bill and account collectors work in call centers for collection agencies although positions are available in healthcare, social assistance agencies, and other industries. Collectors face resistance, rejection, anger, and desperation from the people they negotiate with, and must still make their next call with a polite, positive tone and attitude. Fortunately, some consumers appreciate help in resolving their outstanding debts and can be quite grateful. Most bill and account collectors work full time… often putting in evening and weekend hours to reach people at home. Positions generally require a high school diploma, and on-the-job training is provided.
View transcript
View Help

What does this information tell me?

This career video gives more information about the career you selected.

You can view the complete video script by clicking “View Transcript” above.

This video is one of hundreds of downloadable career videos in CareerOneStop’s Video Library.

What is the source of this information?

These career videos were produced by CareerOneStop (newer videos) or by a national video consortium, which includes many state workforce agencies. Data and information the videos are from the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

Collapse Help
How much does it pay?

Hourly wages for Bill and Account Collectors in United States


Wage Chart for Occupation
$17.91 $24.36


Wage Chart legend for lowest 25 percent
  One out of four earn less than $17.91
Wage Chart legend for middle 50 percent
  Half earn between $17.91 and $24.36
Wage Chart legend for highest 25 percent
  One out of four earn more than $24.36


See more wages
View Help

What does this information tell me?

This chart shows you a range of how much most workers in this occupation earn per hour, in the location that you selected.

The lower rate on the left shows what 25 percent of all workers in this field earn less than, and 75 percent earn more than. If you are just starting out, you can assume you might make closer to this amount than the higher amount, although this is not necessarily a “starting wage.” Often workers with more experience and training earn wages at the higher end.

You can learn more about wages for this and other occupations by clicking “See more wages” above.

What is the source of this information?

The wage information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program, a semi-annual survey that provides wage and employment statistics for the nation, each state, and sub-state regions.

Collapse Help

Will there be jobs?

Image. Employment outlook for this occupation
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.


Find job openings
View Help

What does this information tell me?

Outlook information can tell you whether a career is expected to be in demand in the future—that is, whether there are likely to be job openings if you choose this career. Please note that this does not account for the impacts of the current pandemic. Many occupations are likely to have very different outlooks due to the rapidly changing economy. When new outlook information is developed, it will be reflected here.

Careers can have one of three outlooks:

  • A Bright outlook means new job opportunities are very likely in the future
  • An Average outlook means that a small number of new job opportunities are likely in the future (less than an 8 percent increase)
  • A Below average outlook means new job opportunities are less likely in the future

You can also view local job listings in this field by clicking "Find job openings" above. This can help you see if local businesses are hiring—another way of looking at demand.

What is the source of this information?

This information comes from O*NET Bright Outlook occupations and My Next Move career outlook designations (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2022-32). It is only available at a national level, so even if you selected a state, you’ll only see this information for the whole country.

Collapse Help
How much education do you need?

Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
Chart. Percent of workers in this field by education level attained

Find local training
View Help

What does this information tell me?

There are two pieces of information here:

  • The first sentence tells you the typical level of education that you would need to start in this career. You can use this to see if you have, or want to get, the education level usually needed for this career.
  • The chart shows you the range of education levels that people who currently work in this field have. You can use this to see if you fit in this range.

Note that these two may be different since the chart includes ALL people who work in this field and not just those getting started.

For example, sometimes career requirements change. People already in the field may not be required to have the higher level of education that new workers need.

You can search for programs that lead to the education needed for this career in your local area, by clicking “Find local training” above.

What is the source of this information?

These data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Education and training assignments by detailed occupation, 2022; and Educational attainment for workers 25 years and older by detailed occupation, 2018-19.

Collapse Help
What you might do in a day
  • Maintain financial or account records.
  • Monitor financial information.
  • Provide notifications to customers or patrons.
  • Negotiate financial arrangements.
  • Discuss account status or activity with customers or patrons.
  • Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
  • Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
  • Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment.
  • Arrange for debt repayment or establish repayment schedules, based on customers' financial situations.
  • Advise customers of necessary actions and strategies for debt repayment.
View Help

What does this information tell me?

This is a list of typical tasks that people in this career might do on the job.  You can use this list to get an idea of whether this career might be a good fit for you.

Click on “More tasks” to see more detailed examples of activities for this career.

You can also use this list to help you prepare for a job interview. Or, if you’ve already held a job like this, you can copy these tasks to use on your resume.

What is the source of this information?

This information comes from O*NET OnLine's Occupation Information. The first five items on the list are O*NET’s Detailed Work Activities. The second five, shown after you click “More tasks,” are O*NET‘s Tasks.

Collapse Help