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How to hire a collections assistant

Collections assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring collections assistants in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a collections assistant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per collections assistant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 31,278 collections assistants in the US, and there are currently 11,335 job openings in this field.
  • Saint Louis, MO, has the highest demand for collections assistants, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a collections assistant, step by step

To hire a collections assistant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a collections assistant:

Here's a step-by-step collections assistant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a collections assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new collections assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your collections assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a collections assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a collections assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a collections assistant that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of collections assistants and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Collections AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Collections AssistantBill and account collectors, sometimes called collectors, try to recover payment on overdue bills. They negotiate repayment plans with debtors and help them find solutions to make paying their overdue bills easier.$13-23
    Account RepresentativeAccount representatives are employees who manage client accounts and act as the main contact of the clients they are handling. They maintain existing accounts by updating client details regularly... Show more$12-24
    Accounts Receivable AnalystAn Accounts Receivable Analyst provides accounts receivable support through monitoring all aspects of the collection of outstanding debts owed to a company. They check missing and unresolved payment issues, monitor overdue accounts, and prepare statements for managers.$15-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Data Collection
    • Delinquent Accounts
    • Collection Calls
    • Collection Agencies
    • Medicaid
    • Customer Accounts
    • Health Histories
    • Past Due Accounts
    • Payment Arrangements
    • Collection Efforts
    • Credit Card
    • FDCPA
    • Collection Process
    Check all skills
    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.
    • Assist customers in all areas regarding their accounts while complying with FDCPA regulations.
    • Promote employee safety and compliance of all government federal regulations including OSHA and HIPAA.
    More collections assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your collections assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A collections assistant salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, collections assistants' average salary in west virginia is 41% less than in connecticut.
    • Seniority. Entry-level collections assistants earn 40% less than senior-level collections assistants.
    • Certifications. A collections assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a collections assistant's salary.

    Average collections assistant salary

    $38,063yearly

    $18.30 hourly rate

    Entry-level collections assistant salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 13, 2025

    Average collections assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Connecticut$51,911$25
    2Massachusetts$48,042$23
    3California$47,268$23
    4Pennsylvania$45,144$22
    5Hawaii$42,287$20
    6New York$41,770$20
    7Illinois$40,748$20
    8Virginia$40,090$19
    9Washington$38,433$18
    10Michigan$37,977$18
    11Montana$37,904$18
    12Missouri$37,747$18
    13Kansas$36,975$18
    14Colorado$36,043$17
    15Indiana$35,708$17
    16Texas$34,905$17
    17South Carolina$34,764$17
    18Louisiana$34,645$17
    19North Carolina$34,492$17
    20Florida$32,497$16

    Average collections assistant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Calvin Klein$53,182$25.57
    2University of California-Berkeley$49,212$23.66
    3Massachusetts Institute of Technology$45,690$21.97
    4Yale University$45,659$21.952
    5University of Washington$42,855$20.602
    6University of Rochester$42,210$20.293
    7Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union$41,437$19.92
    8Asset Living$40,219$19.34
    9H&K Group$39,904$19.18
    10LA State University Continuing$39,861$19.16
    11The University of Kansas Health System$39,845$19.161
    12Navy Federal Credit Union$38,678$18.60
    13Pritzker Military Museum & Library$38,330$18.43
    14Dartmouth$38,099$18.32
    15PSEA$37,919$18.231
    16Kelly Services$37,747$18.153
    17Philadelphia Museum of Art$37,695$18.12
    18Velocity Credit Union$37,599$18.08
    19Northwest Cascade Inc.$36,860$17.72
    20Missouri State University$36,398$17.50
  4. Writing a collections assistant job description

    A good collections assistant job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a collections assistant job description:

    Collections assistant job description example

    Job specific duties include:
    • Repossession Process including assignments, redemptions, moving units to auction, sale of units and all required letters.
    • Deferment Processing which includes gathering required documents from member, gaining the approval / turndown decision from the management team and either finishing the process with the member if approved or routing back to the collection team.
    • Negative Share process which includes working a daily list of overdrawn shares and closing the share when it becomes 45-day delinquent.
    • Bankruptcy filings including filing POC and working with outside bankruptcy attorneys.
    • General clerical duties including but not limited to filing, preparing accounts for third party collections (attorney's, etc.) and processing payments and settlements.
    • Updates the system notating repossessed autos, collateral value for autos and real estate loans, etc.
    • Processes daily mail.
    • Pulls Credit Bureau reports as needed.
    • Requests property searches.
    • Assists in preparing daily, weekly, and monthly, annual reports as needed.
    • Other duties as assigned.

    Physical Requirements:

    Work is of a generally sedentary nature with limited need to lift or otherwise move objects (10 lbs. or under). Must be able to sit for extended periods of time but also walk and stand for periods of time. Requires manual dexterity, the ability to perform repetitive motions and visual ability to work at a computer terminal, utilize keyboard, telephone, and other standard office equipment. Must also be able to deliver and receive verbal communication.

    Training & Development Expectations:
    • Takes training required for the position
    • Understand and comply with all state and federal regulations and laws. Ensure compliance with all governing regulations especially the Bank Secrecy Act requirements. Bank Secrecy Act knowledge will be determined by the employee's position and responsibility.
    • Seeks additional training in areas outside of the job requirements.
    • Participates in community involvement activities.

    This position requires a High School Diploma or equivalent, proven work experience as a Collection Administrator, Collection Associate, or a similar position, and Excellent oral and written communication skills. The ideal candidate will possess excellent time management / organizational skills and be proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel. This full-time hybrid position will require working onsite in Aston, PA, at least 3 days/week.

    This Collections Assistant position earns a competitive wage, depending on experience. We also offer a robust benefits package including medical, dental, vision, a flexible spending account (FSA), a 401(k) plan with company match, life insurance, an interest rate reduction on loans, and employee discounts on things such as movie tickets, theme parks and local events. If this sounds like the opportunity that you've been looking for, apply now!

    Please be advised that credit, criminal, employment, and education background checks are conducted on potential candidates. A post-offer, pre-employment drug test is also conducted.


    About Sun East Federal Credit Union

    Headquartered in Aston, PA, Sun East was chartered in 1949 as the result of Sun Oil Company employees banding together to assist each other with their financial needs. From these humble beginnings, we have grown to serve the financial needs of more than 50,400 members throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. As a credit union, we are a cooperative financial institution, owned and operated by its members. The basis of our philosophy is "people helping people."

    "Together, we will be our members' heroes and build relationships that create lasting legacies, one person at a time." In order, to hire and retain employees who will make this mission their own; we offer competitive pay, a comprehensive benefits package, and a rewarding work environment with opportunities for career development.


    ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

    If you feel that you would be right for this Applications & Network Analyst position, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!



    Job Posted by ApplicantPro
  5. Post your job

    To find the right collections assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with collections assistants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit collections assistants who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your collections assistant job on Zippia to find and attract quality collections assistant candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting collections assistants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new collections assistant

    Once you've selected the best collections assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new collections assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a collections assistant?

Hiring a collections assistant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting collections assistants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of collections assistant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $38,063 per year for a collections assistant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for collections assistants in the US typically range between $13 and $23 an hour.

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