Collections Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Collections Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Collections Specialist in the United States is $45,129 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,562
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,998 to $50,067
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,237
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View as table View as graph 25% $40,998 10% $37,237 90% $54,562 75% $50,067 $45,129 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Collections Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $50,067 $4,172 $963 $24
Average $45,129 $3,761 $868 $22
25th Percentile $40,998 $3,417 $788 $20
Check out Collections Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Collections Specialist

Randstad - Columbus, OH

Debt Collections Specialist

CFS - Columbus, OH

Credit Union Member Solutions Specialist (Collections)

Education First Credit Union - Columbus, OH

Search More Collections Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Collections Specialist Salaries

A Collections Specialist'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 Collections Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Collections Specialist'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): $40,177
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $44,766
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $49,540
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,936
  • Expert (over 8 years): $241,083
Levels Salary
Collectio... Level Collections Specialist$40,177
Collectio... Level Collections Specialist$44,766
Collectio... Level Collections Specialist$49,540
Collectio... Level Collections Specialist$68,936
VP of Col... Level Collections Specialist$241,083
$40,177 0 yr
$44,766 < 2 yrs
$49,540 2-4 yrs
$68,936 5-8 yrs
$241,083 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Collections Specialists

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: $56,921
  • San Francisco: $56,298
  • Oakland: $55,112

What Skills Can Increase a Collections Specialist'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 Collections Specialist'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
$50,093
11%
Leadership
$48,739
8%
Financial Services
$47,837
6%
Commitment
$46,934
4%
Accounting
$46,483
3%
Initiative
$46,483
3%
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Collections Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Collections Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Collections Specialist positions in Media or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Collections Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Collections Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$56,411$27.025%
Business Services$54,155$26.020%
Energy & Utilities$53,252$26.018%
Biotechnology$51,898$25.015%
Aerospace & Defense$50,545$24.012%

How Education impacts a Collections Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Collections Specialists 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 Collections Specialist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $44,531 and $47,456).

Collections Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Collections Specialist
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%
view as graph

Collections Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Collections Specialist'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Collections Specialist

Salaries for a Collections Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $43,294 in 2023 to around $43,550 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Collections Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Collections Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$43,294
2024
$43,811
2025
$43,550
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $43,294
2024 $43,811
2025 $43,550
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Collections Specialist

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

Here are companies hiring for Collections Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Collections Specialist Job

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

United States
  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    5 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    5 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    5 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

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FAQ about Collections Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Collections Specialist?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Collections Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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