Collection Agent Salary in the United States

How much does a Collection Agent make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Collection Agent in the United States is $43,194 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

However, a Collection Agent's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $51,632
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,813 to $47,611
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,824
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View as table View as graph 25% $38,813 10% $34,824 90% $51,632 75% $47,611 $43,194 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Collection Agent Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $47,611 $3,968 $916 $23
Average $43,194 $3,599 $831 $21
25th Percentile $38,813 $3,234 $746 $19
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Key Factors That Influence Collection Agent Salaries

A Collection Agent's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Collection Agent Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Collection Agent's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $39,600
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $44,107
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $48,808
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,901
  • Expert (over 8 years): $237,437
Levels Salary
Collectio... Level Collection Agent$39,600
Collectio... Level Collection Agent$44,107
Collectio... Level Collection Agent$48,808
Collectio... Level Collection Agent$67,901
VP of Col... Level Collection Agent$237,437
$39,600 0 yr
$44,107 < 2 yrs
$48,808 2-4 yrs
$67,901 5-8 yrs
$237,437 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Collection Agents

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $54,480
  • San Francisco: $53,945
  • Oakland: $52,748

What Skills Can Increase a Collection Agent's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 18.42% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 3.57% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Bankruptcy (Mentioned in 1.28% Job Postings): Bankruptcy helps people who can no longer pay their debts get a fresh start by liquidating assets to pay their debts or by creating a repayment plan.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 18.42%
Microsoft Office 3.57%
Bankruptcy 1.28%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Collection Agent's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$47,945
11%
Leadership
$46,649
8%
Financial Services
$45,785
6%
Commitment
$44,922
4%
Accounting
$44,490
3%
Initiative
$44,490
3%
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How Education impacts a Collection Agent's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Collection Agents enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Collection Agent with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $44,531 and $47,456).

Collection Agent Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Collection Agent
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.9%
High School 33.3%
Associates 11.8%
Bachelors 47.1%
Masters 2.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Collection Agent Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Collection Agent's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Collection Agent

Salaries for a Collection Agent can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $42,653 in 2023 to around $42,904 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Collection Agent salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Collection Agent Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,653
2024
$43,161
2025
$42,904
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,653
2024 $43,161
2025 $42,904
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Collection Agent

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Collection Agent

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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