Best states for a debt collector

Q: What is the best state for debt collectors?

The best state to be a debt collector is Washington based on debt collector salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for debt collectors?

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

Q: What is the worst state for debt collectors?

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

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Are you thinking of becoming a debt collector and really want to work at NCO Group? Turns out, your chances to become a debt collector are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for debt collectors. We found that Washington is the best state in the nation for debt collectors, and people in Eureka earn the most in the field.

Washington is the best state for jobs for debt collectors, and South Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $42,112, while the median pay in South Dakota is $26,704.We found that the Midwest is best for debt collectors, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for debt collector jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.

10 best states for debt collectors in 2025

1. Washington
Total debt collector jobs: 250
Average annual salary: $42,112
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Debt collector jobs in Washington
2. New Jersey
Total debt collector jobs: 293
Average annual salary: $40,272
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Debt collector jobs in New Jersey
3. Maryland
Total debt collector jobs: 254
Average annual salary: $39,849
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Debt collector jobs in Maryland
4. District of Columbia
Total debt collector jobs: 55
Average annual salary: $44,636
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Debt collector jobs in District of Columbia
5. Virginia
Total debt collector jobs: 271
Average annual salary: $41,483
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Debt collector jobs in Virginia
6. California
Total debt collector jobs: 946
Average annual salary: $42,856
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Debt collector jobs in California
7. Alaska
Total debt collector jobs: 25
Average annual salary: $40,730
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Debt collector jobs in Alaska
8. Massachusetts
Total debt collector jobs: 281
Average annual salary: $39,471
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Debt collector jobs in Massachusetts
9. Colorado
Total debt collector jobs: 206
Average annual salary: $37,743
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Debt collector jobs in Colorado
10. Idaho
Total debt collector jobs: 32
Average annual salary: $38,995
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.55
Debt collector jobs in Idaho

Debt collector jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a debt collector

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

Detailed list of the best states for a debt collector

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Washington	$42,112	$32,000	7,405,743	250
2	New Jersey	$40,272	$28,000	9,005,644	293
3	Maryland	$39,849	$28,000	6,052,177	254
4	District of Columbia	$44,636	$32,000	693,972	55
5	Virginia	$41,483	$30,000	8,470,020	271
6	California	$42,856	$32,000	39,536,653	946
7	Alaska	$40,730	$34,000	739,795	25
8	Massachusetts	$39,471	$28,000	6,859,819	281
9	Colorado	$37,743	$29,000	5,607,154	206
10	Idaho	$38,995	$30,000	1,716,943	32
11	Georgia	$34,988	$25,000	10,429,379	395
12	Wisconsin	$36,577	$27,000	5,795,483	138
13	Rhode Island	$34,623	$24,000	1,059,639	47
14	Missouri	$34,188	$25,000	6,113,532	226
15	New York	$36,659	$25,000	19,849,399	516
16	Pennsylvania	$32,583	$23,000	12,805,537	479
17	Texas	$33,330	$25,000	28,304,596	799
18	Nevada	$34,432	$26,000	2,998,039	69
19	North Dakota	$34,845	$26,000	755,393	23
20	Minnesota	$33,996	$25,000	5,576,606	249
21	Montana	$35,704	$28,000	1,050,493	24
22	Oregon	$34,031	$26,000	4,142,776	172
23	Mississippi	$35,582	$26,000	2,984,100	39
24	Tennessee	$31,515	$23,000	6,715,984	232
25	Connecticut	$35,672	$25,000	3,588,184	84
26	Alabama	$33,322	$24,000	4,874,747	106
27	Vermont	$33,391	$24,000	623,657	27
28	Wyoming	$34,145	$26,000	579,315	9
29	New Hampshire	$32,599	$23,000	1,342,795	65
30	Utah	$31,219	$24,000	3,101,833	136
31	Arizona	$31,468	$24,000	7,016,270	293
32	Florida	$31,444	$22,000	20,984,400	791
33	Kentucky	$30,271	$22,000	4,454,189	149
34	Iowa	$31,138	$23,000	3,145,711	127
35	Ohio	$30,777	$22,000	11,658,609	374
36	North Carolina	$31,322	$23,000	10,273,419	320
37	Illinois	$32,796	$24,000	12,802,023	382
38	Michigan	$31,123	$22,000	9,962,311	250
39	Arkansas	$29,465	$22,000	3,004,279	106
40	Maine	$31,734	$23,000	1,335,907	40
41	Hawaii	$36,130	$30,000	1,427,538	16
42	Indiana	$30,400	$22,000	6,666,818	216
43	New Mexico	$31,716	$24,000	2,088,070	43
44	Nebraska	$29,784	$22,000	1,920,076	80
45	Louisiana	$30,653	$22,000	4,684,333	93
46	South Carolina	$29,991	$22,000	5,024,369	118
47	Kansas	$29,131	$22,000	2,913,123	77
48	Delaware	$29,341	$20,000	961,939	31
49	Oklahoma	$28,827	$22,000	3,930,864	70
50	West Virginia	$27,618	$20,000	1,815,857	29
51	South Dakota	$26,704	$20,000	869,666	22

Highest paying states for debt collectors

Rank	State	Avg. Debt Collector Salary
1	Washington	$42,112
2	New Jersey	$40,272
3	Maryland	$39,849
4	District of Columbia	$44,636
5	Virginia	$41,483
6	California	$42,856
7	Alaska	$40,730
8	Massachusetts	$39,471
9	Colorado	$37,743
10	Idaho	$38,995
11	Georgia	$34,988
12	Wisconsin	$36,577
13	Rhode Island	$34,623
14	Missouri	$34,188
15	New York	$36,659
16	Pennsylvania	$32,583
17	Texas	$33,330
18	Nevada	$34,432
19	North Dakota	$34,845
20	Minnesota	$33,996
21	Montana	$35,704
22	Oregon	$34,031
23	Mississippi	$35,582
24	Tennessee	$31,515
25	Connecticut	$35,672
26	Alabama	$33,322
27	Vermont	$33,391
28	Wyoming	$34,145
29	New Hampshire	$32,599
30	Utah	$31,219
31	Arizona	$31,468
32	Florida	$31,444
33	Kentucky	$30,271
34	Iowa	$31,138
35	Ohio	$30,777
36	North Carolina	$31,322
37	Illinois	$32,796
38	Michigan	$31,123
39	Arkansas	$29,465
40	Maine	$31,734
41	Hawaii	$36,130
42	Indiana	$30,400
43	New Mexico	$31,716
44	Nebraska	$29,784
45	Louisiana	$30,653
46	South Carolina	$29,991
47	Kansas	$29,131
48	Delaware	$29,341
49	Oklahoma	$28,827
50	West Virginia	$27,618
51	South Dakota	$26,704

Debt collector best states FAQs

What is the best state for debt collectors?

What is the highest paying state for debt collectors?

What is the worst state for debt collectors?

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

Search for debt collector jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs

Total debt collector jobs:	250
Average annual salary:	$42,112
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$53,000
Location Quotient:	0.97

Best states for a debt collector

10 best states for debt collectors in 2025

1. Washington

2. New Jersey

3. Maryland

4. District of Columbia

5. Virginia

6. California

7. Alaska

8. Massachusetts

9. Colorado

10. Idaho