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Pay: The median pay for a collections clerk in the Seattle area is $32,762 per year, with most making from about $28,700 to $37,235 per year, according to salary.com.
Demand: Employment of bill and account collectors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. Cash flow is becoming increasingly important to companies, which are placing greater emphasis on collecting unpaid debts sooner. Thus, the workload for collectors is expected to continue to increase. Also, as more companies get involved in lending money and issuing their own credit cards, they will need to hire collectors. In addition, a significant number of openings will result from the high level of turnover in the occupation.
Need to know: Most bill and account collectors are required to have at least a high-school diploma. However, employers prefer workers who have completed some college or who have experience working with the public. Workers should have good communication skills and be computer literate. Once hired, workers usually receive on-the-job training. Workers are also instructed in the laws governing the collection of debt as mandated by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act which applies to all third-party and some in-house collectors.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read more: Salary and benefits , What this Job Pays
