How To Become A Collections Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a collections assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A collections assistant is an individual who works in a museum, library, or archive to manage and organize collections of art, artifacts, documents, or other materials. They are responsible for cataloging items to ensure their preservation and accessibility for research and public viewing. They may work closely with curators, conservators, and other staff members to maintain the integrity of the collection. Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are essential for this role.

ScoreCollections AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,063

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 3.87%

Black or African American 12.35%

Hispanic or Latino 19.78%

Unknown 4.18%

White 59.33%

Gender

female 72.26%

male 27.74%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a collections assistant?

Pros

Opportunity to work with unique and fascinating artifacts
Gain experience in cataloging and managing collections
Ability to learn about history and culture through hands-on work
Ability to develop research and analytical skills
Chance to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage

Cons

Can be physically demanding, requiring lifting and moving heavy objects
May require repetitive tasks, leading to monotony
Can be emotionally taxing when dealing with sensitive or controversial material
Requires attention to detail and accuracy, leaving little room for error
May involve working in cramped or uncomfortable spaces

Key steps to become a collections assistant

Explore collections assistant education requirements

Most common collections assistant degrees

Bachelor's

57.0 %

Associate

15.9 %

High School Diploma

10.8 %

Start to develop specific collections assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	16.96%
Data Collection	12.85%
Delinquent Accounts	5.38%
Collection Calls	4.77%
Collection Agencies	4.55%

Complete relevant collections assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New collections assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a collections assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real collections assistant resumes.

Research collections assistant duties and responsibilities

Plan and conduct sensitive HUMINT collection operations with an emphasis on managing and debriefing confidential sources.
Maintain confidential donor records in accordance with HIPAA.
Adhere to FDCPA guidelines pertaining to all telephone contacts.
Submit claims to Medicare and Medicaid and third party commercial plans.

Prepare your collections assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your collections assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a collections assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable collections assistant resume templates

Build a professional collections assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your collections assistant resume.