Billing associate vs collections/accounts receivable

The differences between billing associates and collections/accounts receivables can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a billing associate, becoming a collections/accounts receivable takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a collections/accounts receivable has an average salary of $38,949, which is higher than the $34,612 average annual salary of a billing associate.

The top three skills for a billing associate include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a collections/accounts receivable are customer service, patients, and delinquent accounts.

Billing associate vs collections/accounts receivable overview

	Billing Associate	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Yearly salary	$34,612	$38,949
Hourly rate	$16.64	$18.73
Growth rate	-3%	-8%
Number of jobs	23,835	30,523
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	12

What does a billing associate do?

A billing associate is responsible for processing payments and invoices for customers and ensuring accurate financial reports for auditing purposes. Billing associates utilize the business' accounting systems to monitor billing transactions and resolve account discrepancies accordingly. They also update customer records in the database, post payments timely, and escalate outstanding bills to the supervisor for resolution. A billing associate reaches out to the clients and customers for payment responsibility and respond to the inquiries and concerns they may have.

What does a collections/accounts receivable do?

An officer for collections/accounts receivable is in charge of a company's financial activities, ensuring that they receive payment from clients. They primarily focus on overseeing all billing and invoices, processing and verifying all receipts and rendered services, maintaining an accurate record of all transactions, producing reports and presentations, reviewing account and payment histories, and ensuring the accuracy of all processes involving the matter. Furthermore, should there be any complex issues, it is essential to reach out to a manager or a supervisor right away.

Billing associate vs collections/accounts receivable salary

Billing associates and collections/accounts receivables have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Billing Associate	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Average salary	$34,612	$38,949
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $42,000	Between $30,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	Vancouver, WA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Washington	Connecticut
Best paying company	Huron Consulting Group	Apollo Global Management
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between billing associate and collections/accounts receivable education

There are a few differences between a billing associate and a collections/accounts receivable in terms of educational background:

	Billing Associate	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	-

Billing associate vs collections/accounts receivable demographics

Here are the differences between billing associates' and collections/accounts receivables' demographics:

	Billing Associate	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 20.6% Female, 79.4%	Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	8%

Differences between billing associate and collections/accounts receivable duties and responsibilities

Billing associate example responsibilities.

Manage the submission and reimbursement of claims bill to insurance companies using ICD-9 coding.
Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Verify correct ICD-9 and CPT codes for a variety of specialties submission of electronic claims to clearinghouse.
Ensure appropriate medical terminology and HIPAA compliance for all claims entry/online submissions, payment posting, insurance and patient aging.
Help office transition from patient charts to new EMR system.
Scan in all documents to EMR routing reports and labs to ordering physicians.

Collections/accounts receivable example responsibilities.

Plan and conduct sensitive HUMINT collection operations with an emphasis on managing and debriefing confidential sources.
Work accounts receivable for Medicaid verification and payments.
Work remittance advice from Medicaid ensuring accuracy of payments.
Research and obtain extensive knowledge of FDCPA debt recovery laws and assist in recovering commercial debt from organizations.
Communicate effectively with patients, physicians, hospital staff, and insurance representatives to ensure accuracy in claims processing.
Review claims to determine if process correctly and if necessary, direct patients to contact insurance companies regarding additional benefit questions.

Billing associate vs collections/accounts receivable skills

Common billing associate skills

Patients, 15%
Customer Service, 12%
Data Entry, 11%
Medical Billing, 5%
Insurance Billing, 3%
Billing Inquiries, 3%

Common collections/accounts receivable skills

Customer Service, 21%
Patients, 6%
Delinquent Accounts, 5%
Credit Card Payments, 5%
Past Due Accounts, 5%
Customer Accounts, 5%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Billing Associate
Billing Associate vs Collections/Accounts Receivable

Updated January 8, 2025

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