Collection Paralegal Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Collection Paralegal in the United States is $80,216 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,479
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,058 to $89,252
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,632
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View as table View as graph 25% $72,058 10% $64,632 90% $97,479 75% $89,252 $80,216 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Collection Paralegal Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,252 $7,438 $1,716 $43
Average $80,216 $6,685 $1,543 $39
25th Percentile $72,058 $6,005 $1,386 $35

Key Factors That Influence Collection Paralegal Salaries

A Collection Paralegal'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 Paralegal Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Collection Paralegal'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): $69,771
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $81,915
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $94,499
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $118,235
  • Expert (over 8 years): $151,572
Levels Salary
Paralegal... Level Collection Paralegal$69,771
Collectio... Level Collection Paralegal$81,915
Paralegal... Level Collection Paralegal$94,499
Paralegal... Level Collection Paralegal$118,235
Paralegal... Level Collection Paralegal$151,572
$69,771 0 yr
$81,915 < 2 yrs
$94,499 2-4 yrs
$118,235 5-8 yrs
$151,572 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Collection Paralegal Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Collection Paralegals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $88,815.
  • California: $88,478.
  • Massachusetts: $87,299.

Top Paying Cities for Collection Paralegals

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: $101,176
  • San Francisco: $100,068
  • Oakland: $97,960

What Skills Can Increase a Collection Paralegal's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 3.94% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Microsoft Word (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Microsoft Word or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students' homework assignments
  • Corporate Governance (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Implementing rules, practices, and processes to effectively direct and manage a company to meet its missions and goals.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 3.94%
Microsoft Word 2.2%
Corporate Governance 1.1%
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 Paralegal's salary.
  • Intellectual Property: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Contract Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Corporate Governance: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Intellectual Property
$88,237
10%
Contract Management
$85,029
6%
Corporate Governance
$84,227
5%
Leadership
$84,227
5%
Due Diligence
$83,424
4%
Project Management
$83,424
4%
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Collection Paralegal Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Collection Paralegal roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 55% above the average. In contrast, Collection Paralegal positions in MFG Nondurable or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Collection Paralegal as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Collection Paralegal

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$124,334$60.055%
Pharmaceuticals$116,313$56.045%
Energy & Utilities$108,291$52.035%
Biotechnology$104,281$50.030%
Internet$96,259$46.020%

How Education impacts a Collection Paralegal's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Collection Paralegals 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 Paralegal with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $76,463 and $81,364).

Collection Paralegal Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Collection Paralegal
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 16.5%
Associates 24.5%
Bachelors 49.4%
Masters 5.3%
Doctorate 4.1%
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Collection Paralegal Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Collection Paralegal'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Collection Paralegal

Salaries for a Collection Paralegal can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $76,687 in 2023 to around $76,431 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Collection Paralegal salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Collection Paralegal Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$76,687
2024
$76,752
2025
$76,431
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $76,687
2024 $76,752
2025 $76,431
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Collection Paralegal

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

Here are companies hiring for Collection Paralegal and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Collection Paralegal Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Collection Paralegal job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Collection Paralegal

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Collection Paralegal?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Collection Paralegal roles, with salaries approximately 55% above the market median.

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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