Best states for a collections associate

Q: What is the best state for collections associates?

The best state to be a collections associate is Pennsylvania based on collections associate salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for collections associates?

The highest paying state for collections associates is South Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for collections associates?

The worst state for collections associates is South Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to collections associate jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. As collections associates are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for collections associates. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a collections associate, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

The median salary for collections associates in Pennsylvania is $51,893. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $28,087, which ranked worst for collections associates, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for collections associates, and the Northeast is the worst. Danbury, CT is the best city in the country for collections associate jobs, where as Pennsylvania is the best state in the country.

10 best states for collections associates in 2026

1. Pennsylvania
Total collections associate jobs: 454
Average annual salary: $51,893
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Collections associate jobs in Pennsylvania
2. District of Columbia
Total collections associate jobs: 62
Average annual salary: $58,982
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Collections associate jobs in District of Columbia
3. New York
Total collections associate jobs: 458
Average annual salary: $55,050
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Collections associate jobs in New York
4. Rhode Island
Total collections associate jobs: 38
Average annual salary: $49,622
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Collections associate jobs in Rhode Island
5. Massachusetts
Total collections associate jobs: 257
Average annual salary: $52,512
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Collections associate jobs in Massachusetts
6. Maryland
Total collections associate jobs: 234
Average annual salary: $47,550
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Collections associate jobs in Maryland
7. Connecticut
Total collections associate jobs: 71
Average annual salary: $56,792
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000
Location Quotient:
0.69
Collections associate jobs in Connecticut
8. Alaska
Total collections associate jobs: 20
Average annual salary: $60,395
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Collections associate jobs in Alaska
9. Kentucky
Total collections associate jobs: 131
Average annual salary: $40,445
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Collections associate jobs in Kentucky
10. Oregon
Total collections associate jobs: 152
Average annual salary: $42,748
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Collections associate jobs in Oregon

Collections associate jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a collections associate

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a collections associate

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Pennsylvania	$51,893	$25,000	12,805,537	454
2	District of Columbia	$58,982	$30,000	693,972	62
3	New York	$55,050	$26,000	19,849,399	458
4	Rhode Island	$49,622	$24,000	1,059,639	38
5	Massachusetts	$52,512	$25,000	6,859,819	257
6	Maryland	$47,550	$24,000	6,052,177	234
7	Connecticut	$56,792	$27,000	3,588,184	71
8	Alaska	$60,395	$45,000	739,795	20
9	Kentucky	$40,445	$24,000	4,454,189	131
10	Oregon	$42,748	$27,000	4,142,776	152
11	New Jersey	$49,207	$23,000	9,005,644	257
12	Vermont	$43,014	$21,000	623,657	29
13	Illinois	$43,262	$25,000	12,802,023	355
14	Arizona	$38,809	$25,000	7,016,270	265
15	Michigan	$44,582	$23,000	9,962,311	215
16	New Hampshire	$42,800	$21,000	1,342,795	59
17	Virginia	$45,369	$23,000	8,470,020	258
18	California	$44,910	$29,000	39,536,653	785
19	Delaware	$45,571	$22,000	961,939	28
20	North Dakota	$39,321	$24,000	755,393	21
21	Nevada	$38,085	$24,000	2,998,039	61
22	Maine	$41,231	$20,000	1,335,907	39
23	Ohio	$37,660	$20,000	11,658,609	344
24	Minnesota	$37,546	$22,000	5,576,606	220
25	Washington	$39,121	$24,000	7,405,743	210
26	Florida	$36,699	$22,000	20,984,400	555
27	Georgia	$36,176	$22,000	10,429,379	312
28	Wisconsin	$37,779	$21,000	5,795,483	141
29	Missouri	$35,188	$22,000	6,113,532	216
30	Indiana	$35,531	$20,000	6,666,818	191
31	Montana	$37,114	$24,000	1,050,493	20
32	Tennessee	$32,301	$20,000	6,715,984	220
33	Mississippi	$37,427	$23,000	2,984,100	33
34	Hawaii	$44,612	$37,000	1,427,538	18
35	Idaho	$36,163	$24,000	1,716,943	30
36	Texas	$32,991	$21,000	28,304,596	752
37	Utah	$32,410	$21,000	3,101,833	155
38	Kansas	$34,236	$22,000	2,913,123	77
39	Nebraska	$33,207	$21,000	1,920,076	76
40	Colorado	$35,087	$23,000	5,607,154	172
41	Arkansas	$31,362	$20,000	3,004,279	97
42	North Carolina	$34,371	$19,000	10,273,419	253
43	South Carolina	$35,038	$20,000	5,024,369	97
44	Wyoming	$34,309	$23,000	579,315	7
45	Louisiana	$33,721	$21,000	4,684,333	77
46	West Virginia	$32,961	$18,000	1,815,857	25
47	Iowa	$30,073	$18,000	3,145,711	126
48	Oklahoma	$31,846	$21,000	3,930,864	68
49	Alabama	$32,590	$20,000	4,874,747	76
50	New Mexico	$32,575	$21,000	2,088,070	42
51	South Dakota	$28,087	$18,000	869,666	26

Highest paying states for collections associates

Rank	State	Avg. Collections Associate Salary
1	Pennsylvania	$51,893
2	District of Columbia	$58,982
3	New York	$55,050
4	Rhode Island	$49,622
5	Massachusetts	$52,512
6	Maryland	$47,550
7	Connecticut	$56,792
8	Alaska	$60,395
9	Kentucky	$40,445
10	Oregon	$42,748
11	New Jersey	$49,207
12	Vermont	$43,014
13	Illinois	$43,262
14	Arizona	$38,809
15	Michigan	$44,582
16	New Hampshire	$42,800
17	Virginia	$45,369
18	California	$44,910
19	Delaware	$45,571
20	North Dakota	$39,321
21	Nevada	$38,085
22	Maine	$41,231
23	Ohio	$37,660
24	Minnesota	$37,546
25	Washington	$39,121
26	Florida	$36,699
27	Georgia	$36,176
28	Wisconsin	$37,779
29	Missouri	$35,188
30	Indiana	$35,531
31	Montana	$37,114
32	Tennessee	$32,301
33	Mississippi	$37,427
34	Hawaii	$44,612
35	Idaho	$36,163
36	Texas	$32,991
37	Utah	$32,410
38	Kansas	$34,236
39	Nebraska	$33,207
40	Colorado	$35,087
41	Arkansas	$31,362
42	North Carolina	$34,371
43	South Carolina	$35,038
44	Wyoming	$34,309
45	Louisiana	$33,721
46	West Virginia	$32,961
47	Iowa	$30,073
48	Oklahoma	$31,846
49	Alabama	$32,590
50	New Mexico	$32,575
51	South Dakota	$28,087

Collections associate best states FAQs

What is the best state for collections associates?

What is the highest paying state for collections associates?

What is the worst state for collections associates?

Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.

Search for collections associate jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs

Total collections associate jobs:	454
Average annual salary:	$51,893
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$105,000
Location Quotient:	1.25

Best states for a collections associate

10 best states for collections associates in 2026

1. Pennsylvania

2. District of Columbia

3. New York

4. Rhode Island

5. Massachusetts

6. Maryland

7. Connecticut

8. Alaska

9. Kentucky

10. Oregon