How much does a bill collector make?

In the U.S., experience, location, and employer industry can affect pay; BLS data show differences across business-support, credit, health-care, and management employers. Most collectors work full time, while some have evening or weekend shifts.

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.

What's a typical day like?

At a computer, a collector checks overdue accounts, then calls or writes people to explain the bill, hear what happened, and discuss a payment plan. They record each contact and payment, follow up, or send unresolved cases to the creditor.

In the U.S., finish high school or an equivalent and apply for a collector job; classes in communication, accounting, or computers can help. After hiring, employers train new collectors on software, debt laws, and negotiation.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling.

If someone moves without updating their address, collectors may use “skip tracing”—checking online, postal, credit-bureau, and other sources to find them.