Bill and Account Collectors in California
Thinking about a career as a Bill and Account Collectors in California? Below are the key facts. 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 do Bill and Account Collectors Make in California?
For a bill and account collectors working in California, wages run about $57,070 per year (or roughly $27.44/hour).Pay can range from $37,380 at the 10th percentile to $84,530 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| 25th percentile | $45,080 | $21.67 |
| Median (50th) | $57,070 | $27.44 |
| 75th percentile | $67,290 | $32.35 |
| 90th percentile | $84,530 | $40.64 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California relative to the national average — is 0.78, suggesting fewer bill and account collectors per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, bill and account collectors earn a median of $38,334 per year ($18.43/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 705,409 bill and account collectors nationwide. In California alone, about 15,100 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 2,300 bill and account collectors.
Top California Metros for Bill and Account Collectors
The metro areas below employ the most bill and account collectors in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,040 | $56,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,670 | $68,290 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,430 | $53,030 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,080 | $52,060 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 620 | $58,200 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 580 | $71,160 |
| Fresno, CA | 250 | $52,150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 210 | $47,320 |
| Modesto, CA | 150 | $58,870 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 130 | $59,520 |
| Visalia, CA | 130 | $53,550 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 120 | $49,700 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 110 | $62,810 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 100 | $53,580 |
| Napa, CA | 80 | $66,940 |
| Vallejo, CA | 80 | n/a |
| Chico, CA | 60 | $53,210 |
| Salinas, CA | 60 | $53,650 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 60 | $55,320 |
| Merced, CA | 30 | $49,470 |
| Yuba City, CA | 30 | $48,980 |
Top States for Bill and Account Collectors Employment
The table below shows the states where the most bill and account collectors work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 20,800 |
| California | 15,100 |
| Florida | 13,350 |
| New York | 8,740 |
| Ohio | 8,660 |
| Georgia | 6,610 |
| Arizona | 6,360 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,290 |
| North Carolina | 5,300 |
| Illinois | 4,310 |
| South Carolina | 4,060 |
| Missouri | 3,820 |
| Minnesota | 3,800 |
| Virginia | 3,760 |
| Tennessee | 3,690 |
| Michigan | 3,330 |
| Indiana | 3,250 |
| Utah | 3,160 |
| Washington | 3,020 |
| New Jersey | 3,000 |
Highest-Paying States for Bill and Account Collectors
The highest-paying states for bill and account collectors.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $58,070 |
| California | $57,070 |
| Connecticut | $54,200 |
| Massachusetts | $53,160 |
| Rhode Island | $52,580 |
| Oregon | $52,530 |
| Vermont | $51,070 |
| New Jersey | $50,660 |
| Hawaii | $50,380 |
| Maryland | $50,050 |
Skills
The most important bill and account collectors skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for bill and account collectors, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
- Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment.
- Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
- Arrange for debt repayment or establish repayment schedules, based on customers' financial situations.
- Advise customers of necessary actions and strategies for debt repayment.
- Answer customer questions regarding problems with their accounts.
- Persuade customers to pay amounts due on credit accounts, damage claims, or nonpayable checks, or to return merchandise.
- Confer with customers by telephone or in person to determine reasons for overdue payments and to review the terms of sales, service, or credit contracts.
- Receive payments and post amounts paid to customer accounts.
- Trace delinquent customers to new addresses by inquiring at post offices, telephone companies, credit bureaus, or through the questioning of neighbors.
- Notify credit departments, order merchandise repossession or service disconnection, and turn over account records to attorneys when customers fail to respond to collection attempts.
- Sort and file correspondence and perform miscellaneous clerical duties, such as answering correspondence and writing reports.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Getting Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Performing Administrative Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks In-demand technologies: Accounting software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Finance & Financial Management
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Related Careers
Related occupations to bill and account collectors include:
- Financial Managers
- Accountants and Auditors
- Credit Analysts
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Credit Counselors
- Loan Officers
Also Known As
Account Receivable Associate, Account Representative, Account Service Representative, Accounts Collector, Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist), Bad Credit Collector, Bilingual Collections Specialist, Bill Collector, Billing Representative, Car Repossessor, Chaser, Claims Collector, Collection Agent, Collection Clerk, Collection Representative.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 43-3011.00
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