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Collection Clerk Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Collection Clerk in the United States is $39,490 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $44,390
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,901 to $42,055
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,633
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Collection Clerk Salaries

A Collection Clerk'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 Clerk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Collection Clerk'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): $39,302
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $43,794
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $48,466
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,445
  • Expert (over 8 years): $235,871
Levels Salary
Collectio... Level Collection Clerk$39,302
Collectio... Level Collection Clerk$43,794
Collectio... Level Collection Clerk$48,466
Collectio... Level Collection Clerk$67,445
VP of Col... Level Collection Clerk$235,871
View as Graph

How Do Collection Clerk 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 Clerks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $43,724.
  • California: $43,558.
  • Massachusetts: $42,977.

Top Paying Cities for Collection Clerks

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: $49,809
  • San Francisco: $49,264
  • Oakland: $48,226

What Skills Can Increase a Collection Clerk's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 17.84% 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.
  • Credit Card (Mentioned in 2.74% Job Postings): A credit card is a type of credit facility, provided by banks that allow customers to borrow funds within a pre-approved credit limit.
  • HIPAA (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 17.84%
Credit Card 2.74%
HIPAA 1.1%
See More Skills

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 Clerk's salary.

  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Time Management $45,019
14%
Accounting $44,229
12%
Flexibility $43,834
11%
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Collection Clerk Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Collection Clerk roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Collection Clerk positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Collection Clerk as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Collection Clerk

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$51,338$25.030%
Pharmaceuticals$49,363$24.025%
Software & Networking$47,388$23.020%
Biotechnology$45,414$22.015%
Internet$45,414$22.015%

How Education impacts a Collection Clerk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Collection Clerks 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 Clerk with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $39,494 and $42,021).

Collection Clerk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Collection Clerk
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.6%
High School 42.1%
Associates 25.0%
Bachelors 23.7%
Masters 6.6%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Collection Clerk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Collection Clerk'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 September 01, 2026
$35,901
Average $39,490/year
$42,055
$2,992
Average $3,291/month
$3,505
$690
Average $759/week
$809
$17
Average $19/hour
$20
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $42,055 $3,505 $809 $20
Average $39,490 $3,291 $759 $19
25th Percentile $35,901 $2,992 $690 $17

Most common benefits for Collection Clerk

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Collection Clerk

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

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FAQ about Collection Clerk

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Collection Clerk roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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