Collections Team Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Collections Team Lead make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Collections Team Lead in the United States is $107,542 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $127,355
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $94,748 to $117,913
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $83,099

Key Factors That Influence Collections Team Lead Salaries

A Collections Team Lead'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 Team Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Collections Team Lead'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): $78,399
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,813
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $108,431
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $156,355
  • Expert (over 8 years): $223,319
Levels Salary
Credit an... Level Collections Team Lead$78,399
Credit an... Level Collections Team Lead$72,813
Collectio... Level Collections Team Lead$108,431
Credit an... Level Collections Team Lead$156,355
VP of Cre... Level Collections Team Lead$223,319

How Do Collections Team Lead 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 Collections Team Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $119,071.
  • California: $118,619.
  • Massachusetts: $117,038.

Top Paying Cities for Collections Team Leads

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: $135,643
  • San Francisco: $134,158
  • Oakland: $131,330

What Skills Can Increase a Collections Team Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.62% 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 1.77% 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.
  • Bond (Mentioned in 1.26% Job Postings): Bonds are issued by borrowers to raise money from investors willing to lend them money for a certain amount of time.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.62%
Credit Card 1.77%
Bond 1.26%

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 Team Lead's salary.

  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Financial Services $116,145
8%
PowerPoint $115,070
7%
Project Management $115,070
7%

Collections Team Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Collections Team Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Collections Team Lead positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Collections Team Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Collections Team Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$134,428$65.025%
Energy & Utilities$118,296$57.010%
Financial Services$118,296$57.010%
Pharmaceuticals$118,296$57.010%
Aerospace & Defense$112,919$54.05%

How Education impacts a Collections Team Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Collections Team Leads enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Team Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $105,943 and $114,553).

Collections Team Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Collections Team Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.6%
High School 27.0%
Associates 16.4%
Bachelors 40.4%
Masters 12.7%
Doctorate 1.0%

Collections Team Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Collections Team Lead'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
$94,748
Average $107,542/year
$117,913
$7,896
Average $8,962/month
$9,826
$1,822
Average $2,068/week
$2,268
$46
Average $52/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $117,913 $9,826 $2,268 $57
Average $107,542 $8,962 $2,068 $52
25th Percentile $94,748 $7,896 $1,822 $46

Most common benefits for Collections Team Lead

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

Common company salaries for Collections Team Lead

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

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FAQ about Collections Team Lead

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Collections Team Lead?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Collections Team Lead 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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