Bill and account collectors
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Bill and Account Collectors: 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; keeping records of collection and status of accounts.
Bill and account collectors held about 456,000 jobs in 2004. About 1 in 5 collectors works for collection agencies. Many others work in banks, retail stores, government, physician’s offices, hospitals, and other institutions that lend money and extend credit.
Median hourly earnings of bill and account collectors were $13.20 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.87 and $16.28. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.22, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $20.10. In addition to a basic rate of pay, many bill and account collectors earn commissions based on the amount of debt they recover.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Bill and Account Collectors)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Bill and account collectors | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 40 mean earnings: $31,140 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,960 | $26,210 | $31,850 | $36,000 | $41,710 |
| Utilities employment: 3,840 mean earnings: $36,100 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,500 | $28,350 | $34,710 | $43,100 | $52,490 |
| Utilities employment: 3,840 mean earnings: $36,100 | $23,500 | $28,350 | $34,710 | $43,100 | $52,490 |
| Construction employment: 930 mean earnings: $30,220 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,650 | $24,520 | $28,970 | $34,450 | $43,500 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 240 mean earnings: $31,490 | $22,780 | $25,140 | $29,200 | $34,050 | $48,180 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 160 mean earnings: $31,180 | $21,520 | $24,990 | $30,550 | $36,260 | $43,110 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 520 mean earnings: $29,340 | $19,320 | $24,080 | $28,500 | $34,110 | $41,850 |
| Manufacturing employment: 4,460 mean earnings: $34,040 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,010 | $25,350 | $31,190 | $38,840 | $47,540 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 170 mean earnings: $33,200 | $20,330 | $25,370 | $32,590 | $41,450 | $46,790 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $36,910 | $25,350 | $30,210 | $35,450 | $44,050 | $52,230 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $32,570 | $23,500 | $26,630 | $31,650 | $37,900 | $44,970 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $33,100 | $23,520 | $25,670 | $29,520 | $38,720 | $50,710 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $35,700 | $24,120 | $29,310 | $37,270 | $41,850 | $44,650 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 1,340 mean earnings: $30,470 | $20,460 | $24,290 | $29,000 | $35,000 | $43,150 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 160 mean earnings: $34,470 | $21,940 | $27,570 | $34,140 | $41,270 | $46,820 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 100 mean earnings: $31,590 | $21,640 | $24,810 | $28,400 | $37,730 | $45,360 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $39,920 | $23,690 | $28,850 | $37,440 | $50,420 | $62,920 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 200 mean earnings: $32,720 | $21,150 | $25,490 | $31,460 | $38,880 | $46,480 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 260 mean earnings: $33,050 | $21,860 | $25,750 | $31,570 | $38,610 | $45,930 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 370 mean earnings: $40,070 | $25,630 | $30,980 | $38,680 | $48,790 | $56,240 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 90 mean earnings: $31,860 | $21,400 | $25,220 | $30,960 | $38,050 | $43,880 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 100 mean earnings: $35,220 | $20,930 | $28,100 | $35,100 | $43,320 | $50,630 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 820 mean earnings: $31,520 | $20,220 | $24,440 | $30,160 | $36,810 | $44,810 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 510 mean earnings: $44,290 | $20,430 | $25,700 | $31,800 | $39,490 | $55,990 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 28,130 mean earnings: $32,160 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,020 | $25,270 | $30,660 | $37,040 | $45,580 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 17,090 mean earnings: $32,290 | $21,240 | $25,450 | $30,890 | $37,380 | $45,610 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 9,010 mean earnings: $32,020 | $20,680 | $24,920 | $30,320 | $36,480 | $45,950 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 2,040 mean earnings: $31,650 | $20,670 | $25,360 | $30,320 | $36,730 | $44,200 |
| Retail Trade employment: 21,470 mean earnings: $28,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,370 | $21,610 | $26,610 | $32,860 | $40,410 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 5,830 mean earnings: $28,410 | $18,630 | $21,710 | $26,680 | $33,020 | $41,120 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 2,360 mean earnings: $25,200 | $15,420 | $18,950 | $24,350 | $29,780 | $35,900 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 1,110 mean earnings: $29,950 | $17,450 | $22,070 | $28,680 | $35,690 | $45,350 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 2,200 mean earnings: $32,630 | $19,140 | $23,040 | $28,250 | $35,600 | $47,530 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,650 | $22,370 | $25,710 | $29,900 | $33,400 | $35,500 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 3,060 mean earnings: $28,900 | $19,300 | $23,220 | $27,760 | $33,430 | $39,130 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 230 mean earnings: $24,570 | $16,680 | $20,310 | $24,060 | $27,650 | $34,210 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 700 mean earnings: $26,290 | $17,290 | $19,820 | $24,090 | $31,020 | $38,130 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 570 mean earnings: $26,590 | $18,220 | $21,190 | $25,780 | $30,520 | $36,670 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $27,840 | $20,140 | $23,880 | $26,870 | $30,810 | $36,550 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 2,550 mean earnings: $29,490 | $18,820 | $22,860 | $28,530 | $34,460 | $42,210 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 6,120 mean earnings: $29,840 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,910 | $23,550 | $28,510 | $34,890 | $42,250 |
| Air Transportation employment: 110 mean earnings: $36,080 | $26,970 | $31,280 | $35,610 | $41,280 | $45,840 |
| Water Transportation employment: 130 mean earnings: $38,460 | $25,260 | $30,380 | $35,760 | $47,400 | $54,560 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 3,410 mean earnings: $29,460 | $19,970 | $23,630 | $28,110 | $34,520 | $41,510 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 350 mean earnings: $28,750 | $19,420 | $22,760 | $27,990 | $33,810 | $40,250 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 640 mean earnings: $31,420 | $19,940 | $23,280 | $30,100 | $37,100 | $46,060 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 1,150 mean earnings: $28,680 | $19,430 | $22,220 | $27,820 | $33,680 | $38,370 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 290 mean earnings: $30,680 | $21,470 | $24,590 | $28,590 | $35,240 | $42,440 |
| Information employment: 18,290 mean earnings: $33,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,900 | $25,500 | $32,190 | $40,980 | $50,460 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 3,780 mean earnings: $32,520 | $19,960 | $24,440 | $30,780 | $38,800 | $46,660 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: n.a. mean earnings: $34,970 | $24,010 | $29,170 | $33,220 | $38,080 | $46,950 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 1,210 mean earnings: $32,340 | $20,290 | $24,890 | $31,120 | $38,440 | $45,600 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 120 mean earnings: $36,800 | $23,650 | $29,390 | $35,900 | $44,460 | $52,840 |
| Telecommunications employment: 10,400 mean earnings: $35,450 | $22,360 | $27,070 | $33,740 | $42,730 | $52,350 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 2,670 mean earnings: $30,710 | $19,370 | $22,300 | $27,550 | $36,900 | $46,710 |
| Other Information Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $32,780 | $23,980 | $27,420 | $32,940 | $38,680 | $42,720 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 87,210 mean earnings: $30,630 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,330 | $24,280 | $29,010 | $35,000 | $43,010 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 76,710 mean earnings: $30,340 | $20,260 | $24,170 | $28,820 | $34,710 | $42,490 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 950 mean earnings: $32,990 | $19,870 | $24,020 | $30,300 | $39,830 | $48,890 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 9,080 mean earnings: $32,560 | $21,280 | $25,350 | $30,760 | $37,360 | $45,250 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 470 mean earnings: $35,260 | $19,380 | $24,870 | $32,500 | $42,570 | $57,900 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 11,470 mean earnings: $28,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,190 | $21,510 | $27,360 | $34,260 | $41,980 |
| Real Estate employment: 5,150 mean earnings: $29,740 | $17,940 | $22,240 | $29,100 | $35,410 | $43,260 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 6,230 mean earnings: $27,760 | $18,290 | $21,070 | $26,170 | $32,920 | $40,170 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 90 mean earnings: $32,720 | $20,820 | $26,070 | $32,740 | $39,150 | $44,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 32,250 mean earnings: $31,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,840 | $24,600 | $29,590 | $36,670 | $46,210 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 32,250 mean earnings: $31,950 | $20,840 | $24,600 | $29,590 | $36,670 | $46,210 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 14,540 mean earnings: $31,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,100 | $25,090 | $30,030 | $36,430 | $44,850 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 14,540 mean earnings: $31,890 | $21,100 | $25,090 | $30,030 | $36,430 | $44,850 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 117,210 mean earnings: $27,510 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,020 | $20,940 | $25,700 | $32,130 | $40,040 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 115,990 mean earnings: $27,470 | $18,010 | $20,910 | $25,670 | $32,080 | $39,990 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 1,220 mean earnings: $30,600 | $20,310 | $24,440 | $29,390 | $35,490 | $43,410 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,830 mean earnings: $30,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,250 | $24,830 | $29,980 | $35,190 | $41,900 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,830 mean earnings: $30,370 | $20,250 | $24,830 | $29,980 | $35,190 | $41,900 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 75,150 mean earnings: $29,420 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,240 | $23,980 | $28,440 | $34,030 | $40,290 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 49,210 mean earnings: $29,630 | $20,480 | $24,260 | $28,720 | $34,180 | $40,420 |
| Hospitals employment: 22,360 mean earnings: $28,580 | $19,800 | $23,210 | $27,610 | $33,210 | $38,560 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 2,930 mean earnings: $32,740 | $21,790 | $25,860 | $31,510 | $38,070 | $45,750 |
| Social Assistance employment: 650 mean earnings: $27,460 | $19,260 | $21,940 | $25,930 | $31,600 | $38,940 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 250 mean earnings: $27,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,020 | $22,590 | $26,570 | $31,470 | $36,470 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 220 mean earnings: $27,260 | $19,370 | $22,800 | $26,530 | $31,020 | $36,130 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 520 mean earnings: $27,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,370 | $22,620 | $26,240 | $31,350 | $36,360 |
| Accommodation employment: 510 mean earnings: $27,210 | $19,350 | $22,540 | $26,130 | $31,070 | $36,350 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 1,800 mean earnings: $28,460 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,350 | $23,010 | $26,950 | $32,810 | $40,010 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 110 mean earnings: $33,280 | $20,960 | $25,250 | $30,750 | $37,050 | $53,780 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 1,320 mean earnings: $27,540 | $18,990 | $22,130 | $26,450 | $31,930 | $37,400 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 360 mean earnings: $30,300 | $22,730 | $24,600 | $27,630 | $34,490 | $43,100 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 5,770 mean earnings: $32,450 (def) (IG) | $21,160 | $25,660 | $31,740 | $38,660 | $46,140 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 5,770 mean earnings: $32,450 | $21,160 | $25,660 | $31,740 | $38,660 | $46,140 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.