There were 158,830 bill and account collectors in the U.S. in May 2025, with median pay of $47,030 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. South Dakota had the most relative to its workforce: 2.44 collector jobs per 1,000 jobs.
After South Dakota came Delaware (2.03 per 1,000) and Arizona (1.95). By number, Texas had the most collectors, 21,720, followed by California (13,880) and Florida (13,180). Median pay was highest in the District of Columbia ($62,230) and lowest in Mississippi ($37,680). Nationally, the middle half of collectors earned between $39,010 and $56,740.
By state, May 2025
| State | Bill and account collectors | Per 1,000 jobs | Median annual pay | Mean annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 1,120 | 2.44 | $46,620 | $45,750 |
| Delaware | 990 | 2.03 | $46,680 | $49,330 |
| Arizona | 6,300 | 1.95 | $47,740 | $49,640 |
| South Carolina | 4,430 | 1.92 | $43,140 | $44,250 |
| New Hampshire | 1,120 | 1.63 | $44,450 | $48,140 |
| Texas | 21,720 | 1.54 | $45,710 | $46,170 |
| Nevada | 2,350 | 1.52 | $48,750 | $49,560 |
| Utah | 2,430 | 1.40 | $45,240 | $45,490 |
| Florida | 13,180 | 1.33 | $46,410 | $47,920 |
| Missouri | 3,770 | 1.28 | $41,760 | $43,960 |
| Montana | 640 | 1.25 | $45,420 | $46,940 |
| Ohio | 6,620 | 1.19 | $46,230 | $47,020 |
| Tennessee | 3,890 | 1.19 | $40,920 | $43,550 |
| Virginia | 4,590 | 1.12 | $43,770 | $45,920 |
| North Carolina | 5,460 | 1.10 | $42,910 | $42,730 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,680 | 1.10 | $46,660 | $49,020 |
| Georgia | 5,280 | 1.08 | $46,300 | $46,940 |
| Oklahoma | 1,740 | 1.02 | $44,820 | $46,830 |
| Mississippi | 1,150 | 0.99 | $37,680 | $40,570 |
| Alabama | 2,090 | 0.99 | $40,330 | $43,410 |
| Minnesota | 2,860 | 0.97 | $49,580 | $52,310 |
| West Virginia | 670 | 0.95 | $43,960 | $43,890 |
| Alaska | 310 | 0.95 | $60,810 | $57,550 |
| Kansas | 1,350 | 0.94 | $45,760 | $50,180 |
| New York | 8,800 | 0.91 | $47,170 | $51,890 |
| Louisiana | 1,690 | 0.87 | $39,130 | $40,980 |
| Wisconsin | 2,570 | 0.87 | $49,090 | $51,030 |
| Kentucky | 1,740 | 0.87 | $48,330 | $49,340 |
| Indiana | 2,690 | 0.84 | $45,240 | $45,830 |
| Illinois | 5,080 | 0.83 | $48,140 | $50,550 |
| New Jersey | 3,310 | 0.77 | $52,510 | $56,010 |
| California | 13,880 | 0.76 | $57,930 | $59,590 |
| Maryland | 2,090 | 0.76 | $50,010 | $53,360 |
| Rhode Island | 370 | 0.74 | $52,000 | $55,770 |
| Nebraska | 730 | 0.71 | $43,210 | $43,940 |
| Massachusetts | 2,510 | 0.69 | $59,800 | $59,710 |
| Michigan | 2,990 | 0.68 | $47,130 | $48,390 |
| Arkansas | 850 | 0.65 | $39,110 | $40,860 |
| Maine | 410 | 0.65 | $48,890 | $51,280 |
| Washington | 2,260 | 0.64 | $48,460 | $52,300 |
| Wyoming | 180 | 0.62 | $42,110 | $42,960 |
| North Dakota | 270 | 0.62 | $46,660 | $46,000 |
| Idaho | 510 | 0.59 | $41,880 | $46,130 |
| Colorado | 1,670 | 0.58 | $50,090 | $51,900 |
| Iowa | 830 | 0.54 | $46,000 | $49,760 |
| Connecticut | 900 | 0.53 | $57,930 | $58,640 |
| New Mexico | 440 | 0.51 | $46,560 | $47,010 |
| Oregon | 830 | 0.42 | $50,880 | $53,820 |
| District of Columbia | 240 | 0.35 | $62,230 | $69,760 |
| Hawaii | 180 | 0.29 | $53,570 | $53,770 |
| Vermont | 80 | 0.27 | $57,630 | $58,210 |
Figures are estimates from a survey of employers, with sampling error.
What these numbers are
Bill and account collectors (occupation code 43-3011) find people who owe money and try to get them to pay. The count is by where people work, in any industry, so it includes collectors at collection agencies, banks, hospitals, utilities and other employers. It does not include self-employed people. A high count per 1,000 jobs shows where collection work is done, not how much debt the state’s residents owe; one large employer can move a small state’s figure.
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates for occupation 43-3011, via the BLS Public Data API, queried October 17, 2026. U.S. government data in the public domain. Our table is available under CC BY 4.0. Credit "My Credit Guide (mycreditguide.org)".
Steven Reynolds, "Bill and Account Collectors by State," My Credit Guide, October 17, 2026, https://mycreditguide.org/data/debt-collector-jobs-by-state/.