Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding customer needs and providing helpful, professional service.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Bill and Account Collector Collectors are trained on the job. Bill and account collectors typically need at least a high school diploma to enter the occupation, and they receive
Education
Most bill and account collectors are required to have a high school diploma, although some employers prefer applicants who have taken some college courses. Communications, accounting, and basic computer courses are examples of classes that are helpful for entering this occupation. Training Bill and account collectors typically receive training after being hired. This on-the-job training includes instruction on computer software, federal debt-collection laws (in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act), and state debt-collection regulations. Collectors also may be trained in negotiation techniques.
Training
on the job.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of bill and account collectors is projected to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline. About 11,200 openings for bill and account collectors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Continued use of enhanced software and automated calling systems is expected to increase productivity and allow collectors to handle more accounts. This technology will allow more collections work to be done with fewer employees. However, the need to collect various types of debt, including student, credit card, and mortgage debt, should create some demand for bill and account collectors. Bill and Account Collectors Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Total, all occupations 3% Financial clerks -7% Bill and account collectors -10% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Bill and Account Collectors Do
Bill and account collectors try to recover payment on overdue bills. They negotiate repayment plans and help people find solutions to make it easier to pay their overdue bills.
Duties
Bill and account collectors typically do the following:
- Find consumers and businesses who have overdue bills
- Track down people who have an out-of-date address by using online, postal, credit bureau, and personal sources—a process known as “skip tracing”
- Inform people that they have an overdue bill and try to negotiate a payment
- Explain the terms of sale or contract, when necessary
- Learn the reasons for the overdue bills, which can help with the negotiations
- Offer credit advice or refer people to a debt counselor, when appropriate
Bill and account collectors generally contact people directly to notify them of unpaid bills. They update contact information and record past collection attempts. Keeping these records can help collectors with future negotiations.
The main job of bill and account collectors is to help negotiate a solution that is acceptable to the debtor and maximizes payment to the creditor. After the two parties agree on a repayment plan, the collector regularly checks to ensure that the debtor pays on time. If the debtor does not pay, the collector submits a statement to the creditor, who may take legal action. In extreme cases, this legal action includes repossessing goods or disconnecting service.
Collectors must follow federal and state laws that govern debt collection. These laws require that collectors make sure they are talking with the debtor before announcing that the purpose of the call is to collect a debt. A collector also must give a statement, called “mini-Miranda,” which informs the account holder that they are speaking with a bill or debt collector. Specific rules may vary by industry.
Collectors usually have goals they are expected to meet. Typically, these include a daily quota of calls and success rates.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Bill and account collectors held about 160,200 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of bill and account collectors were as follows:
| Business support services | 25% |
| Credit intermediation and related activities | 21 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 11 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7 |
Many collectors work in a call center for a third-party collection agency rather than for the original creditor. In all industries, they may spend most of their time on the phone tracking down or negotiating with people who have unpaid bills. They also use computers and databases to update information and record the results of their calls.
Collectors’ work can be stressful because some people may become angry and confrontational when pressed about their debts. Collectors must be able to face rejection regularly and still be ready to make the next call in a polite and positive manner.
Work Schedules
Most bill and account collectors work full time. Some work shifts that include weekends or evenings.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Collectors must be able to explain repayment options and ensure that people fully understand what is being said. Customer-service skills. Bill and account collectors must be patient and empathetic when talking to people about their overdue bills. Detail oriented. These workers must follow specific debt-collection rules, and they must be precise when keeping records of their collection attempts. Listening skills. Collectors must pay attention to what debtors say when trying to negotiate a repayment plan. Learning about a debtor’s situation and how they fell into debt can help collectors suggest solutions. Negotiating skills. The main aspects of a collector’s job are reconciling the differences between two parties (the debtor and the creditor) and offering a solution that is acceptable to both parties.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about bill and account collectors by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.