Collections representative vs billing representative

The differences between collections representatives and billing representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a collections representative, becoming a billing representative takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a billing representative has an average salary of $35,002, which is higher than the $34,015 average annual salary of a collections representative.

The top three skills for a collections representative include payment arrangements, customer service and delinquent accounts. The most important skills for a billing representative are patients, customer service, and data entry.

Collections representative vs billing representative overview

	Collections Representative	Billing Representative
Yearly salary	$34,015	$35,002
Hourly rate	$16.35	$16.83
Growth rate	-8%	-3%
Number of jobs	85,275	95,425
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	12	2

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.

What does a billing representative do?

A billing representative assists with the overall operations of the organization's billing department. Billing representatives post payments timely on the database, update account statements, generate financial reports, release invoices, and resolve account discrepancies. They also perform client accounts reconciliation as needed, monitor account receivables, review overdated balance, and notify clients of payment updates to ensure accurate and timely billing. A billing representative must have strong analytical and communication skills to manage clients' accounts, as well as comprehensive knowledge on the accounting industry to explain the payment terms and policies of an organization to a client.

Collections representative vs billing representative salary

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

	Collections Representative	Billing Representative
Average salary	$34,015	$35,002
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $42,000	Between $28,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	San Ramon, CA	Worcester, MA
Highest paying state	California	Massachusetts
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Relevante
Best paying industry	Finance	Technology

Differences between collections representative and billing representative education

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

	Collections Representative	Billing Representative
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Collections representative vs billing representative demographics

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

	Collections Representative	Billing Representative
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4%	Male, 15.7% Female, 84.3%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 7.3% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	8%	7%

Differences between collections representative and billing representative duties and responsibilities

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.

Billing representative example responsibilities.

Manage software programs for MSP accounts, monthly billing and EMC file transfers to Medicare.
Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Process orders in compliance with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance verification guidelines; confirming customer's eligibility and insurance coverage.
Verify insurance eligibility for schedule appointments, and verify cash pricing for private pay patients who request cost by CPT code.
Submit and receive Medicare and Medicaid claims electronically on a daily basis.
Utilize extensive computer skills and coding knowledge to produce and submit physical therapy and occupational therapy claims through medicaid and medicare.

Collections representative vs billing representative skills

Common collections representative skills

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

Common billing representative skills

Patients, 18%
Customer Service, 13%
Data Entry, 6%
Medical Billing, 5%
Medicaid, 5%
Patient Accounts, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Collections Representative
Collections Representative vs Billing Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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