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Collection agent vs collection analyst

The differences between collection agents and collection analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a collection agent and a collection analyst. Additionally, a collection analyst has an average salary of $46,819, which is higher than the $32,689 average annual salary of a collection agent.

The top three skills for a collection agent include customer service, payment arrangements and delinquent accounts. The most important skills for a collection analyst are customer service, portfolio, and patients.

Collection agent vs collection analyst overview

Collection AgentCollection Analyst
Yearly salary$32,689$46,819
Hourly rate$15.72$22.51
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs47,83728,967
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4646
Years of experience1212

What does a collection agent do?

A collections agent is responsible for communicating with clients to collect payment for their overdue bills and outstanding balances. Collections agents monitor and update a customer's account information in the system, offer repayment plans, manage billing disputes, negotiate sales terms, and maintain records of account resolution. They must evaluate customers' credit reports and delinquency levels to skip tracing priorities. A collections agent must have excellent communication and customer service skills to listen to customers' requests and initiate payment procedures.

What does a collection analyst do?

Collections analysts assess the riskiness of a company or person in credit extension and repayment collection. The analysts manage data processing contract procurement negotiation. They help in the quarterly and yearly external and internal audits. It is part of their job to collect the first payment default and make sure that portfolios are inappropriate performance. They also act on collection calls for the area of responsibility assigned to them.

Collection agent vs collection analyst salary

Collection agents and collection analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Collection AgentCollection Analyst
Average salary$32,689$46,819
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $48,000Between $31,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityLivingston, NJWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyConnecticut
Best paying companyJM Family EnterprisesAmerican Tower
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between collection agent and collection analyst education

There are a few differences between a collection agent and a collection analyst in terms of educational background:

Collection AgentCollection Analyst
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Collection agent vs collection analyst demographics

Here are the differences between collection agents' and collection analysts' demographics:

Collection AgentCollection Analyst
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 37.3% Female, 62.7%Male, 37.7% Female, 62.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 4.0% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between collection agent and collection analyst duties and responsibilities

Collection agent example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient focuse reports, collection modules, provider/facility A/R, collections, patient discharge letters.
  • Used computer GPS to locate vehicles.
  • Input assignments and update clients via computer programs (RDN and PRIOS).
  • Demonstrate professionalism and customer support while following FDCPA guidelines.
  • Assist in preventing impending losses and increase profitability through negotiation and enforcement of schedule collection campaigns.
  • Utilize effective negotiation skills by collecting payments from debtors of unpaid accounts via telephone and written communication.
  • Show more

Collection analyst example responsibilities.

  • Represent and lead the collections' team during executive management weekly conference calls providing updates on the delinquent A/R reports.
  • Assist in reducing the DSO down and limit bad debt expense while focusing on building revenue.
  • Maintain customer relations while improving company DSO.
  • Work remittance advice from Medicaid and Medicare ensuring accuracy of payments, correcting account billing according with Medicaid or Medicare disposition.
  • Do credit checks for new clients with Dunn & Bradstreet along with Equifax.
  • Perform processing functions necessary to ensure timely and accurate DME billing.

Collection agent vs collection analyst skills

Common collection agent skills
  • Customer Service, 20%
  • Payment Arrangements, 19%
  • Delinquent Accounts, 7%
  • Debt Repayment, 6%
  • Past Due Accounts, 5%
  • Debt Collection, 3%
Common collection analyst skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Portfolio, 9%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Customer Accounts, 5%
  • Delinquent Accounts, 4%
  • Reconciliations, 4%

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