Data collection specialist vs debt collector

The differences between data collection specialists and debt collectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a data collection specialist and a debt collector. Additionally, a data collection specialist has an average salary of $43,904, which is higher than the $33,865 average annual salary of a debt collector.

The top three skills for a data collection specialist include data collection, computer database and data entry. The most important skills for a debt collector are customer service, outbound calls, and payment arrangements.

Data collection specialist vs debt collector overview

	Data Collection Specialist	Debt Collector
Yearly salary	$43,904	$33,865
Hourly rate	$21.11	$16.28
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	95,839	23,385
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	12	12

What does a data collection specialist do?

A Data Collection Specialist manages and collects the outstanding accounts receivables from customers and clients. Data Collection Specialists perform various duties that include monitoring all accounts daily, investigating historical data for receivables and debts, and processing refunds and payments. They also collaborate with data analysts to create presentations and surveys, write reports. Other duties include resolving customer credit issues, updating and recording accounts' status, and following up with clients on their overdue payments.

What does a debt collector do?

Debt collectors are also known as collection agencies and are responsible for recovering past due debts. Most of them are hired by companies to collect debt either for a fee or a percentage of the total amount recovered. Also, some debt collectors buy delinquent debts at a discount and seek to collect the debt's full amount. They have many strategies to collect debts, including calling debtor's phones, sending letters, and even visiting them at their home. However, if debtors fail to pay their due, debt collectors can either update the debtor's credit report or sue them over debt. Once sued and debtors ignore court hearings and lose by default, results could either be garnishment on debtor'debtors' wages or levies on their bank.

Data collection specialist vs debt collector salary

Data collection specialists and debt collectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Data Collection Specialist	Debt Collector
Average salary	$43,904	$33,865
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $70,000	Between $26,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Mayor Ethan Berkowitz
Best paying industry	-	Construction

Differences between data collection specialist and debt collector education

There are a few differences between a data collection specialist and a debt collector in terms of educational background:

	Data Collection Specialist	Debt Collector
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Data collection specialist vs debt collector demographics

Here are the differences between data collection specialists' and debt collectors' demographics:

	Data Collection Specialist	Debt Collector
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%	Male, 30.7% Female, 69.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 3.8% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.4% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between data collection specialist and debt collector duties and responsibilities

Data collection specialist example responsibilities.

Manage and prepare pharmaceutical records for multiple FDA audits.
Enter proper diagnostic code (ICD-9), procedure codes (CPT) which patient is treated under.
Produce crime maps using GIS software.
Operate with strict adherence to data security practices in compliance with HIPPA.
Comply with HIPAA laws, contact doctors and hospital staff in gathering sensitive patient information.
Conduct medical and billing record requests, according to most recent and establish HIPAA privacy laws.

Debt collector example responsibilities.

Prevent impeding loss and increasing profitability through negotiation and enforcement of schedule collection campaigns, consistently achieving high success standards.
Work with FHA, obama programs at the time.
Educate customers on ways to get medical assistance such as Medicaid, Medicare etc.
Prevent foreclosure by putting people on repayment plans, submitting requests for modifications, or deed in lieu.
File Medicaid, Medicare and commercial claims consisting of PPO discounts, nurse practitioner discounts, humanitarian discounts, etc.
Maintain security and confidentiality of company and client information, following FDCPA regulations.

Data collection specialist vs debt collector skills

Common data collection specialist skills

Data Collection, 44%
Computer Database, 7%
Data Entry, 6%
Outbound Calls, 5%
Telephone Interviews, 4%
Authorization Forms, 3%

Common debt collector skills

Customer Service, 9%
Outbound Calls, 9%
Payment Arrangements, 8%
Delinquent Accounts, 8%
Credit Card Payments, 6%
FDCPA, 5%

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Data Collection Specialist
Data Collection Specialist vs Debt Collector

Updated January 8, 2025

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