Collections associate vs collections representative

The differences between collections associates and collections representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a collections associate and a collections representative. Additionally, a collections associate has an average salary of $38,589, which is higher than the $34,015 average annual salary of a collections representative.

The top three skills for a collections associate include phone calls, customer service and UPC. The most important skills for a collections representative are payment arrangements, customer service, and delinquent accounts.

Collections associate vs collections representative overview

	Collections Associate	Collections Representative
Yearly salary	$38,589	$34,015
Hourly rate	$18.55	$16.35
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	20,297	85,275
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	12	12

What does a collections associate do?

A collections associate is an individual who acts as a liaison between creditors and customers to collect outstanding payments and negotiates debt payments. Collections associates must contact debtors through telephone to negotiate debt recovery and prevent recurring delinquency. They must enact debt recovery plans and collaborate with other departments on debt collection strategies. They are required to research publicly-available resources such as loan documents and background checks to track down defaulters. They must also initiate legal proceedings when debt recovery fails and send statements of delinquency to the credit bureau.

What does a collections representative do?

A Collections Representative's role is to collect payment for outstanding or overdue bills through phone calls, email, mail, or sometimes personal appointments. A Collections Representative is required to have a great deal of research and communication skills in order to reach out to people and explain how to settle their debts or even negotiate a payment term or plan. Collections Representatives must also make sure that these terms are honored and met, and create reports for the creditor regarding the delinquent accounts.

Collections associate vs collections representative salary

Collections associates and collections representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Collections Associate	Collections Representative
Average salary	$38,589	$34,015
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $63,000	Between $26,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Danbury, CT	San Ramon, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between collections associate and collections representative education

There are a few differences between a collections associate and a collections representative in terms of educational background:

	Collections Associate	Collections Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Collections associate vs collections representative demographics

Here are the differences between collections associates' and collections representatives' demographics:

	Collections Associate	Collections Representative
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6%	Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.8% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between collections associate and collections representative duties and responsibilities

Collections associate example responsibilities.

Plan and conduct sensitive HUMINT collection operations with an emphasis on managing and debriefing confidential sources.
Perform follow up on Medicaid accounts.
Execute assertive collection skills for inbound/outbound calls while meeting FDCPA guidelines.
Call center collections following FDCPA guidelines for third party outbound collections.
Perform collections activities on delinquent loan accounts to include repossessions, foreclosures, bankruptcy proceedings, and disposition of repossess assets.
Position requires knowledge of Medicaid/Medicare formulary of cover drugs, the dosage and restrictions.

Collections representative example responsibilities.

Protect A/R assets by managing a portfolio of accounts to maximize gainful sales and reduce debt losses.
Maintain effective communication and utilize negotiation skills with internal and external customers to effect collections while maintaining customer good will.
Submit all reconsideration and appeals if need.
Conduct periodic data cleaning of queues balances deny with deny appeals.
Resolve valid or authorize NSF charges due to decline credit cards or ACH transactions.
Collect and count inventories, reconcile purchases and scan UPC's and inputting price information.

Collections associate vs collections representative skills

Common collections associate skills

Phone Calls, 16%
Customer Service, 14%
UPC, 10%
Time Card, 7%
Retail Store, 7%
Patients, 4%

Common collections representative skills

Payment Arrangements, 14%
Customer Service, 13%
Delinquent Accounts, 9%
Past Due Accounts, 6%
Customer Accounts, 4%
Debt Repayment, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Collections Associate
Collections Associate vs Collections Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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