Bill and account collectors contact customers who owe money and work to recover those debts. You'll use phones, computers, and negotiation skills to resolve payment issues. Most positions require a high school diploma, making this an accessible entry point into financial services.
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As a bill and account collector, you contact customers by phone, email, or mail to request payment on overdue accounts. You review account details, document all interactions, and organize information about payment histories. You negotiate payment plans, resolve disputes, and escalate complex cases to supervisors. The work requires you to stay calm during difficult conversations, listen carefully to customers' situations, and follow legal guidelines that govern debt collection. You'll spend significant time at a computer entering data and communicating with colleagues about cases.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Bill and Account Collectors earn a median of $47,030 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is softer here. Employment is projected to fall 11 percent from 2024 to 2034, though there are still about 13,700 openings a year from turnover.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most bill and account collector positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. You'll enter the field with some on-the-job training, typically lasting a few weeks to a few months depending on the employer. During training, you'll learn company procedures, relevant laws, computer systems, and communication techniques. Some employers prefer candidates with customer service experience or basic accounting knowledge. Once hired, you'll develop your skills through practice and mentorship from experienced collectors while handling your own accounts.
Most people enter this field directly after high school with employer-provided training. If you're deciding whether this role fits your goals or exploring related paths in financial services, Pathly can map the bill and account collector path that fits you to map out your options with your counselor.
Many bill and account collectors must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You're a natural fit if you're organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable with structured processes. You communicate clearly, think through problems logically, and prefer working within established rules and systems.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).