302 metro areas
Debt Collector Salary by City (2026)
Debt collectors earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $78,190 a year, against $49,060 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($70,810 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $49,060BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $78,190San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $70,810San Jose, CA
- Metro areas
- 302With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for debt collectors
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$78,190
- Napa, CA$73,280
- San Francisco, CA$72,720
- San Luis Obispo, CA$68,910
- New Haven, CT$64,060
- Rochester, MN$63,210
- Santa Cruz, CA$62,400
- Racine, WI$62,230
- Burlington, VT$60,760
- Hartford, CT$59,530
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $78,190 |
| Napa, CA | $73,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,720 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $68,910 |
| New Haven, CT | $64,060 |
| Rochester, MN | $63,210 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $62,400 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $62,230 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $60,760 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $59,530 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- San Jose, CA$78,190 nominal$70,810
- Rochester, MN$63,210 nominal$69,600
- Napa, CA$73,280 nominal$65,110
- Racine, WI$62,230 nominal$64,850
- San Luis Obispo, CA$68,910 nominal$63,460
- San Francisco, CA$72,720 nominal$62,900
- New Haven, CT$64,060 nominal$61,270
- Burlington, VT$60,760 nominal$60,190
- Des Moines, IA$54,450 nominal$59,380
- Midland, TX$55,760 nominal$58,210
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,810 |
| Rochester, MN | $69,600 |
| Napa, CA | $65,110 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $64,850 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $63,460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,900 |
| New Haven, CT | $61,270 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $60,190 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $59,380 |
| Midland, TX | $58,210 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Debt Collector salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $78,190 | $57,930 | $88,170 | $70,810 |
| 2 | Napa, CA | $73,280 | $64,420 | $77,650 | $65,110 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $72,720 | $49,110 | $84,320 | $62,900 |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $68,910 | $54,430 | $76,040 | $63,460 |
| 5 | New Haven, CT | $64,060 | $47,200 | $72,360 | $61,270 |
| 6 | Rochester, MN | $63,210 | $45,680 | $71,840 | $69,600 |
| 7 | Santa Cruz, CA | $62,400 | $48,760 | $69,120 | $56,780 |
| 8 | Racine, WI | $62,230 | $47,240 | $69,620 | $64,850 |
| 9 | Burlington, VT | $60,760 | $51,310 | $65,400 | $60,190 |
| 10 | Hartford, CT | $59,530 | $45,340 | $66,520 | $57,940 |
| 11 | Santa Maria, CA | $59,530 | $46,180 | $66,100 | $54,720 |
| 12 | Santa Rosa, CA | $59,160 | $45,450 | $65,890 | $54,890 |
| 13 | Salinas, CA | $58,610 | $46,470 | $64,600 | $53,750 |
| 14 | New York, NY-NJ | $58,450 | $42,790 | $66,160 | $51,930 |
| 15 | Boston, MA-NH | $58,320 | $43,490 | $65,620 | $53,870 |
| 16 | Kenosha, WI | $57,910 | $45,200 | $64,170 | $57,270 |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $57,760 | $43,720 | $64,690 | $56,540 |
| 18 | Norwich, CT | $57,620 | $45,550 | $63,540 | $57,360 |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,470 | $41,890 | $65,120 | $50,600 |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $57,240 | $40,870 | $65,290 | $54,300 |
| 21 | Visalia, CA | $57,240 | $43,160 | $64,170 | $57,340 |
| 22 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $57,120 | $39,310 | $65,870 | $52,460 |
| 23 | Sacramento, CA | $57,100 | $39,790 | $65,620 | $53,530 |
| 24 | Atlantic City, NJ | $56,700 | $40,500 | $64,670 | $57,360 |
| 25 | Bremerton, WA | $56,350 | $46,360 | $61,260 | $53,360 |
| 26 | Bridgeport, CT | $56,260 | $40,250 | $64,150 | $52,650 |
| 27 | Riverside, CA | $56,120 | $42,180 | $62,980 | $52,720 |
| 28 | Providence, RI-MA | $55,870 | $44,550 | $61,440 | $54,900 |
| 29 | Vallejo, CA | $55,850 | $38,040 | $64,630 | $51,480 |
| 30 | Worcester, MA | $55,850 | $44,530 | $61,420 | $54,480 |
| 31 | Modesto, CA | $55,830 | $45,780 | $60,780 | $53,630 |
| 32 | Midland, TX | $55,760 | $40,500 | $63,290 | $58,210 |
| 33 | Merced, CA | $55,540 | $44,620 | $60,920 | $56,510 |
| 34 | Portland, OR-WA | $55,100 | $44,220 | $60,470 | $52,270 |
| 35 | Oxnard, CA | $54,520 | $39,980 | $61,670 | $49,320 |
| 36 | Des Moines, IA | $54,450 | $40,270 | $61,440 | $59,380 |
| 37 | San Diego, CA | $54,290 | $39,170 | $61,730 | $48,520 |
| 38 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $54,140 | $43,800 | $59,220 | $48,790 |
| 39 | Denver, CO | $54,080 | $42,120 | $59,970 | $51,120 |
| 40 | Trenton, NJ | $54,060 | $41,890 | $60,070 | $52,390 |
| 41 | Fort Collins, CO | $53,980 | $39,890 | $60,900 | $53,380 |
| 42 | Olympia, WA | $53,930 | $44,180 | $58,740 | $52,020 |
| 43 | Salisbury, MD | $53,930 | $42,760 | $59,450 | $56,400 |
| 44 | Springfield, MA | $53,810 | $46,320 | $57,490 | $56,020 |
| 45 | Salem, OR | $53,730 | $36,880 | $62,030 | $51,840 |
| 46 | Bakersfield, CA | $53,600 | $41,370 | $59,630 | $53,130 |
| 47 | Pittsfield, MA | $53,480 | $46,610 | $56,850 | $56,230 |
| 48 | Portland, ME | $53,270 | $46,130 | $56,780 | $52,300 |
| 49 | Seattle, WA | $53,140 | $42,080 | $58,590 | $47,820 |
| 50 | Raleigh, NC | $53,060 | $37,650 | $60,650 | $54,060 |
| 51 | Eau Claire, WI | $52,830 | $42,450 | $57,930 | $56,930 |
| 52 | Baltimore, MD | $52,730 | $42,540 | $57,740 | $50,470 |
| 53 | Stockton, CA | $52,670 | $41,020 | $58,390 | $50,120 |
| 54 | Wausau, WI | $52,640 | $45,550 | $56,140 | $56,820 |
| 55 | Albany, NY | $52,370 | $40,730 | $58,120 | $52,600 |
| 56 | Syracuse, NY | $52,310 | $40,850 | $57,970 | $54,640 |
| 57 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $52,250 | $35,570 | $60,470 | $49,850 |
| 58 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $52,230 | $41,520 | $57,490 | $55,460 |
| 59 | Chicago, IL-IN | $52,170 | $40,500 | $57,910 | $50,360 |
| 60 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $52,170 | $40,500 | $57,910 | $50,870 |
| 61 | Milwaukee, WI | $52,120 | $39,120 | $58,510 | $53,770 |
| 62 | Naples, FL | $51,920 | $41,750 | $56,910 | $50,310 |
| 63 | Rapid City, SD | $51,810 | $42,040 | $56,620 | $58,110 |
| 64 | Reno, NV | $51,790 | $39,190 | $58,010 | $51,270 |
| 65 | Kalamazoo, MI | $51,770 | $39,960 | $57,600 | $54,590 |
| 66 | Lancaster, PA | $51,670 | $39,230 | $57,780 | $52,590 |
| 67 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $51,360 | $33,510 | $60,150 | $55,500 |
| 68 | Elkhart, IN | $51,250 | $41,350 | $56,120 | $56,740 |
| 69 | Eugene, OR | $51,190 | $42,790 | $55,330 | $50,400 |
| 70 | Ann Arbor, MI | $51,170 | $40,350 | $56,490 | $50,720 |
| 71 | Bangor, ME | $51,150 | $44,800 | $54,290 | $53,000 |
| 72 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $51,080 | $39,440 | $56,830 | $53,560 |
| 73 | Madison, WI | $51,040 | $41,640 | $55,660 | $52,460 |
| 74 | Champaign, IL | $50,900 | $39,000 | $56,760 | $54,910 |
| 75 | Charlottesville, VA | $50,900 | $37,520 | $57,490 | $51,340 |
| 76 | Oshkosh, WI | $50,900 | $41,410 | $55,580 | $54,770 |
| 77 | Bozeman, MT | $50,810 | $41,870 | $55,200 | $49,570 |
| 78 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,690 | $37,440 | $57,200 | $56,980 |
| 79 | Waterbury, CT | $50,610 | $34,380 | $58,570 | $50,720 |
| 80 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,540 | $38,460 | $56,490 | $54,300 |
| 81 | Columbus, OH | $50,040 | $37,170 | $56,390 | $52,410 |
| 82 | Detroit, MI | $50,020 | $38,940 | $55,470 | $49,870 |
| 83 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,980 | $40,480 | $54,680 | $48,380 |
| 84 | Helena, MT | $49,960 | $39,330 | $55,180 | $52,220 |
| 85 | Utica, NY | $49,940 | $40,540 | $54,580 | $53,890 |
| 86 | Winchester, VA-WV | $49,920 | $43,120 | $53,270 | $51,760 |
| 87 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $49,860 | $37,480 | $55,930 | $45,570 |
| 88 | Grand Rapids, MI | $49,730 | $38,520 | $55,240 | $52,050 |
| 89 | Miami, FL | $49,690 | $37,170 | $55,850 | $43,530 |
| 90 | Gainesville, GA | $49,250 | $39,520 | $54,060 | $50,900 |
| 91 | Nashville, TN | $49,130 | $37,110 | $55,060 | $51,000 |
| 92 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,090 | $39,520 | $53,810 | $48,980 |
| 93 | Appleton, WI | $49,070 | $39,480 | $53,790 | $53,100 |
| 94 | Fargo, ND-MN | $49,050 | $36,130 | $55,410 | $53,980 |
| 95 | Atlanta, GA | $49,030 | $37,270 | $54,810 | $49,000 |
| 96 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,980 | $37,320 | $54,750 | $51,740 |
| 97 | Spokane, WA | $48,940 | $38,520 | $54,080 | $48,770 |
| 98 | Lebanon, PA | $48,880 | $38,980 | $53,750 | $52,440 |
| 99 | Albuquerque, NM | $48,860 | $39,230 | $53,600 | $51,140 |
| 100 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $48,730 | $37,590 | $54,230 | $56,370 |
| 101 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $48,690 | $37,670 | $54,120 | $53,060 |
| 102 | Tampa, FL | $48,690 | $38,460 | $53,730 | $48,260 |
| 103 | Palm Bay, FL | $48,570 | $38,290 | $53,640 | $48,570 |
| 104 | Saginaw, MI | $48,530 | $37,170 | $54,120 | $53,390 |
| 105 | Colorado Springs, CO | $48,510 | $36,650 | $54,370 | $48,170 |
| 106 | Huntsville, AL | $48,460 | $35,980 | $54,600 | $52,070 |
| 107 | Traverse City, MI | $48,440 | $40,020 | $52,600 | $51,880 |
| 108 | Warner Robins, GA | $48,440 | $39,640 | $52,790 | $51,650 |
| 109 | Manchester, NH | $48,400 | $39,770 | $52,670 | $45,810 |
| 110 | Jacksonville, FL | $48,380 | $38,060 | $53,480 | $48,630 |
| 111 | Lexington, KY | $48,380 | $40,910 | $52,060 | $52,080 |
| 112 | Green Bay, WI | $48,360 | $38,130 | $53,410 | $51,950 |
| 113 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,360 | $34,630 | $55,120 | $50,860 |
| 114 | Dallas, TX | $48,280 | $37,000 | $53,810 | $46,830 |
| 115 | Rochester, NY | $48,240 | $36,690 | $53,910 | $49,710 |
| 116 | Medford, OR | $48,190 | $38,380 | $53,040 | $47,510 |
| 117 | Crestview, FL | $48,130 | $40,560 | $51,880 | $49,600 |
| 118 | Austin, TX | $48,010 | $34,470 | $54,680 | $48,960 |
| 119 | Dayton, OH | $47,990 | $32,340 | $55,700 | $51,770 |
| 120 | Monroe, MI | $47,960 | $41,230 | $51,290 | $51,300 |
| 121 | Reading, PA | $47,960 | $36,500 | $53,620 | $49,410 |
| 122 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $47,920 | $36,130 | $53,750 | $47,940 |
| 123 | Tucson, AZ | $47,920 | $38,790 | $52,420 | $49,460 |
| 124 | Fort Wayne, IN | $47,900 | $38,310 | $52,600 | $51,740 |
| 125 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,840 | $32,780 | $55,270 | $52,920 |
| 126 | Flagstaff, AZ | $47,820 | $37,500 | $52,890 | $47,670 |
| 127 | York, PA | $47,690 | $37,900 | $52,520 | $49,680 |
| 128 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $47,610 | $36,750 | $52,960 | $47,500 |
| 129 | Bloomington, IN | $47,570 | $41,310 | $50,670 | $50,030 |
| 130 | Billings, MT | $47,530 | $36,880 | $52,770 | $50,820 |
| 131 | Boise City, ID | $47,510 | $36,550 | $52,890 | $48,290 |
| 132 | Lafayette, IN | $47,510 | $38,270 | $52,040 | $50,850 |
| 133 | Kennewick, WA | $47,400 | $37,320 | $52,370 | $47,360 |
| 134 | Yakima, WA | $47,400 | $38,940 | $51,560 | $49,610 |
| 135 | Orlando, FL | $47,320 | $36,800 | $52,520 | $46,660 |
| 136 | Rockford, IL | $47,320 | $37,980 | $51,940 | $51,350 |
| 137 | San Antonio, TX | $47,320 | $34,820 | $53,480 | $49,960 |
| 138 | Cape Coral, FL | $47,300 | $37,650 | $52,060 | $46,210 |
| 139 | Bloomington, IL | $47,240 | $40,480 | $50,540 | $50,500 |
| 140 | Odessa, TX | $47,240 | $37,690 | $51,940 | $50,310 |
| 141 | Omaha, NE-IA | $47,200 | $35,400 | $53,000 | $51,350 |
| 142 | Salt Lake City, UT | $47,200 | $36,900 | $52,270 | $46,790 |
| 143 | Youngstown, OH | $47,170 | $30,640 | $55,330 | $53,970 |
| 144 | Janesville, WI | $47,110 | $37,480 | $51,850 | $50,280 |
| 145 | Boulder, CO | $47,010 | $40,870 | $50,020 | $44,690 |
| 146 | Bismarck, ND | $46,970 | $34,320 | $53,190 | $51,600 |
| 147 | Harrisburg, PA | $46,970 | $35,480 | $52,620 | $47,610 |
| 148 | Peoria, IL | $46,740 | $35,240 | $52,420 | $51,230 |
| 149 | Richmond, VA | $46,630 | $33,820 | $52,960 | $47,650 |
| 150 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $46,610 | $34,860 | $52,400 | $50,560 |
| 151 | Terre Haute, IN | $46,570 | $35,760 | $51,900 | $53,040 |
| 152 | Pueblo, CO | $46,450 | $34,610 | $52,270 | $50,620 |
| 153 | Deltona, FL | $46,340 | $36,860 | $51,000 | $46,640 |
| 154 | Springfield, MO | $46,320 | $35,280 | $51,750 | $52,290 |
| 155 | Charleston, SC | $46,260 | $33,760 | $52,400 | $45,820 |
| 156 | St. George, UT | $46,240 | $34,530 | $52,000 | $47,510 |
| 157 | Tulsa, OK | $46,240 | $32,220 | $53,140 | $51,830 |
| 158 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,200 | $36,570 | $50,940 | $48,280 |
| 159 | Jackson, MI | $46,180 | $36,090 | $51,150 | $50,320 |
| 160 | Winston, NC | $46,010 | $31,890 | $52,980 | $49,990 |
| 161 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $45,950 | $37,420 | $50,150 | $50,700 |
| 162 | Macon, GA | $45,910 | $35,800 | $50,900 | $51,860 |
| 163 | Slidell, LA | $45,860 | $34,610 | $51,420 | $49,460 |
| 164 | Canton, OH | $45,820 | $34,960 | $51,190 | $51,250 |
| 165 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $45,820 | $39,230 | $49,090 | $51,880 |
| 166 | Bowling Green, KY | $45,720 | $34,880 | $51,060 | $50,700 |
| 167 | Houston, TX | $45,720 | $33,900 | $51,540 | $46,360 |
| 168 | Topeka, KS | $45,700 | $33,780 | $51,580 | $51,450 |
| 169 | Birmingham, AL | $45,570 | $35,170 | $50,710 | $49,730 |
| 170 | South Bend, IN-MI | $45,570 | $36,590 | $50,000 | $49,070 |
| 171 | Beaumont, TX | $45,390 | $32,160 | $51,900 | $50,410 |
| 172 | Greenville, SC | $45,390 | $37,000 | $49,500 | $48,670 |
| 173 | Erie, PA | $45,320 | $33,470 | $51,170 | $49,830 |
| 174 | Savannah, GA | $45,300 | $34,920 | $50,400 | $47,580 |
| 175 | Panama City, FL | $45,260 | $37,040 | $49,320 | $46,520 |
| 176 | Pensacola, FL | $45,200 | $39,940 | $47,780 | $46,260 |
| 177 | Grand Junction, CO | $45,050 | $35,460 | $49,770 | $47,180 |
| 178 | Wilmington, NC | $45,030 | $34,110 | $50,420 | $46,700 |
| 179 | Amarillo, TX | $44,990 | $34,740 | $50,040 | $49,000 |
| 180 | Evansville, IN | $44,970 | $36,030 | $49,360 | $49,130 |
| 181 | Binghamton, NY | $44,950 | $36,520 | $49,090 | $48,400 |
| 182 | Columbia, MO | $44,950 | $32,200 | $51,250 | $50,260 |
| 183 | Lakeland, FL | $44,950 | $34,090 | $50,290 | $46,270 |
| 184 | Greeley, CO | $44,840 | $35,480 | $49,440 | $44,760 |
| 185 | Dalton, GA | $44,820 | $36,590 | $48,860 | $49,890 |
| 186 | Hickory, NC | $44,780 | $35,360 | $49,420 | $50,610 |
| 187 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $44,720 | $36,710 | $48,650 | $45,500 |
| 188 | Missoula, MT | $44,490 | $38,750 | $47,300 | $46,130 |
| 189 | Shreveport, LA | $44,470 | $33,450 | $49,900 | $52,460 |
| 190 | Dover, DE | $44,450 | $38,360 | $47,440 | $45,590 |
| 191 | Spartanburg, SC | $44,430 | $35,460 | $48,860 | $48,800 |
| 192 | Cleveland, OH | $44,410 | $30,830 | $51,110 | $47,280 |
| 193 | Great Falls, MT | $44,410 | $36,360 | $48,360 | $45,860 |
| 194 | Fayetteville, NC | $44,350 | $35,570 | $48,690 | $48,220 |
| 195 | Springfield, IL | $44,300 | $36,300 | $48,260 | $47,770 |
| 196 | Scranton, PA | $44,280 | $34,760 | $48,980 | $47,330 |
| 197 | Ocala, FL | $44,260 | $35,730 | $48,460 | $46,470 |
| 198 | Tallahassee, FL | $44,240 | $35,880 | $48,360 | $47,100 |
| 199 | Davenport, IA-IL | $44,220 | $31,990 | $50,250 | $49,640 |
| 200 | Rocky Mount, NC | $44,220 | $32,930 | $49,800 | $50,240 |
| 201 | Wichita, KS | $44,200 | $33,220 | $49,610 | $49,690 |
| 202 | Longview, TX | $44,140 | $35,010 | $48,650 | $49,330 |
| 203 | Akron, OH | $44,080 | $33,650 | $49,210 | $47,210 |
| 204 | Chambersburg, PA | $44,080 | $35,320 | $48,380 | $46,580 |
| 205 | Morgantown, WV | $44,050 | $38,850 | $46,610 | $47,200 |
| 206 | Decatur, AL | $44,010 | $35,670 | $48,130 | $50,460 |
| 207 | Buffalo, NY | $43,990 | $35,010 | $48,400 | $45,900 |
| 208 | Paducah, KY-IL | $43,580 | $30,220 | $50,150 | $50,620 |
| 209 | Toledo, OH | $43,580 | $31,220 | $49,670 | $47,650 |
| 210 | Charleston, WV | $43,530 | $37,020 | $46,760 | $49,070 |
| 211 | Durham, NC | $43,510 | $28,790 | $50,770 | $44,590 |
| 212 | Yuma, AZ | $43,410 | $35,260 | $47,420 | $46,830 |
| 213 | Asheville, NC | $43,390 | $32,090 | $48,940 | $44,960 |
| 214 | Elmira, NY | $43,370 | $35,980 | $47,010 | $45,940 |
| 215 | Lansing, MI | $43,370 | $33,010 | $48,460 | $45,660 |
| 216 | Corpus Christi, TX | $43,260 | $31,280 | $49,170 | $46,680 |
| 217 | Baton Rouge, LA | $43,240 | $36,880 | $46,380 | $47,630 |
| 218 | Casper, WY | $43,180 | $37,360 | $46,050 | $46,020 |
| 219 | Jackson, MS | $43,180 | $31,970 | $48,710 | $48,490 |
| 220 | Lincoln, NE | $43,140 | $35,610 | $46,860 | $47,110 |
| 221 | Wichita Falls, TX | $43,120 | $32,050 | $48,550 | $48,170 |
| 222 | Columbia, SC | $43,040 | $33,950 | $47,510 | $45,950 |
| 223 | St. Cloud, MN | $43,040 | $32,010 | $48,460 | $49,110 |
| 224 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $42,910 | $37,070 | $45,780 | $45,600 |
| 225 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $42,850 | $32,800 | $47,780 | $49,890 |
| 226 | Gulfport, MS | $42,810 | $31,370 | $48,440 | $47,560 |
| 227 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $42,810 | $34,030 | $47,110 | $43,680 |
| 228 | Mobile, AL | $42,740 | $33,860 | $47,110 | $48,510 |
| 229 | North Port, FL | $42,720 | $35,170 | $46,450 | $41,710 |
| 230 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $42,700 | $34,200 | $46,900 | $48,680 |
| 231 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $42,600 | $32,740 | $47,470 | $48,180 |
| 232 | Little Rock, AR | $42,600 | $32,780 | $47,420 | $47,670 |
| 233 | Albany, GA | $42,490 | $31,660 | $47,840 | $48,470 |
| 234 | New Orleans, LA | $42,310 | $29,830 | $48,460 | $45,690 |
| 235 | College Station, TX | $42,220 | $29,990 | $48,260 | $46,420 |
| 236 | Tyler, TX | $42,220 | $29,180 | $48,650 | $45,810 |
| 237 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $42,180 | $32,950 | $46,740 | $48,670 |
| 238 | Flint, MI | $42,160 | $34,010 | $46,180 | $45,320 |
| 239 | Glens Falls, NY | $42,140 | $35,780 | $45,260 | $44,420 |
| 240 | Daphne, AL | $42,100 | $33,240 | $46,490 | $44,460 |
| 241 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $42,020 | $30,660 | $47,610 | $44,870 |
| 242 | Brownsville, TX | $42,000 | $28,180 | $48,800 | $48,850 |
| 243 | Fayetteville, AR | $41,890 | $34,280 | $45,640 | $45,860 |
| 244 | Florence, SC | $41,890 | $34,170 | $45,700 | $48,270 |
| 245 | Idaho Falls, ID | $41,810 | $36,170 | $44,570 | $44,280 |
| 246 | Provo, UT | $41,790 | $32,010 | $46,610 | $42,540 |
| 247 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $41,750 | $28,500 | $48,280 | $42,890 |
| 248 | Jonesboro, AR | $41,750 | $28,410 | $48,320 | $48,620 |
| 249 | Lafayette, LA | $41,750 | $30,720 | $47,170 | $47,870 |
| 250 | Lynchburg, VA | $41,680 | $32,120 | $46,400 | $46,640 |
| 251 | Ogden, UT | $41,640 | $32,880 | $45,970 | $41,500 |
| 252 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $41,620 | $37,500 | $43,640 | $45,500 |
| 253 | Gainesville, FL | $41,480 | $33,590 | $45,360 | $42,880 |
| 254 | Altoona, PA | $41,310 | $29,660 | $47,050 | $46,150 |
| 255 | Abilene, TX | $41,200 | $29,810 | $46,820 | $45,590 |
| 256 | Waterloo, IA | $41,200 | $34,990 | $44,260 | $47,330 |
| 257 | Greenville, NC | $41,020 | $31,700 | $45,610 | $46,400 |
| 258 | Johnstown, PA | $40,870 | $31,200 | $45,610 | $47,560 |
| 259 | Montgomery, AL | $40,830 | $32,360 | $44,990 | $45,530 |
| 260 | Lima, OH | $40,810 | $29,200 | $46,530 | $45,510 |
| 261 | Augusta, GA-SC | $40,660 | $30,950 | $45,450 | $44,240 |
| 262 | Muncie, IN | $40,620 | $32,570 | $44,600 | $46,080 |
| 263 | Killeen, TX | $40,560 | $30,870 | $45,340 | $44,510 |
| 264 | Florence, AL | $40,440 | $32,700 | $44,240 | $47,680 |
| 265 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $40,440 | $31,780 | $44,700 | $46,780 |
| 266 | Knoxville, TN | $40,440 | $30,660 | $45,240 | $43,690 |
| 267 | McAllen, TX | $40,440 | $26,770 | $47,150 | $47,080 |
| 268 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $40,100 | $30,010 | $45,070 | $46,590 |
| 269 | Las Cruces, NM | $40,020 | $27,890 | $45,970 | $44,360 |
| 270 | Waco, TX | $39,960 | $32,050 | $43,850 | $43,180 |
| 271 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $39,850 | $31,890 | $43,780 | $40,690 |
| 272 | Houma, LA | $39,710 | $29,430 | $44,760 | $46,660 |
| 273 | Cleveland, TN | $39,370 | $31,050 | $43,490 | $44,700 |
| 274 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $39,330 | $29,890 | $43,990 | $43,240 |
| 275 | Jefferson City, MO | $39,330 | $29,240 | $44,280 | $44,710 |
| 276 | San Angelo, TX | $39,040 | $30,220 | $43,370 | $42,230 |
| 277 | Columbus, GA-AL | $39,020 | $30,350 | $43,310 | $43,700 |
| 278 | Blacksburg, VA | $38,960 | $30,780 | $42,970 | $42,020 |
| 279 | Jacksonville, NC | $38,770 | $30,140 | $43,010 | $42,100 |
| 280 | Gadsden, AL | $38,650 | $31,720 | $42,060 | $45,120 |
| 281 | Roanoke, VA | $38,650 | $30,430 | $42,700 | $41,280 |
| 282 | Mansfield, OH | $38,560 | $27,390 | $44,080 | $43,390 |
| 283 | Brunswick, GA | $38,420 | $28,040 | $43,530 | $43,800 |
| 284 | Greensboro, NC | $38,380 | $27,210 | $43,870 | $41,330 |
| 285 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $38,270 | $28,830 | $42,910 | $44,300 |
| 286 | Lubbock, TX | $38,210 | $27,870 | $43,280 | $41,840 |
| 287 | Laredo, TX | $37,980 | $31,280 | $41,270 | $43,680 |
| 288 | El Paso, TX | $37,880 | $27,230 | $43,120 | $42,130 |
| 289 | Dothan, AL | $37,420 | $30,450 | $40,850 | $44,640 |
| 290 | Joplin, MO-KS | $37,070 | $28,870 | $41,100 | $43,250 |
| 291 | Jackson, TN | $37,040 | $27,370 | $41,790 | $43,310 |
| 292 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,940 | $29,350 | $40,680 | $43,970 |
| 293 | Johnson City, TN | $36,900 | $33,840 | $38,400 | $41,970 |
| 294 | Hattiesburg, MS | $36,150 | $28,480 | $39,940 | $41,250 |
| 295 | Sherman, TX | $35,780 | $30,910 | $38,170 | $38,160 |
| 296 | Monroe, LA | $34,550 | $28,480 | $37,520 | $41,330 |
| 297 | Logan, UT-ID | $32,910 | $25,960 | $36,320 | $34,310 |
| 298 | San Juan, PR | $27,980 | $22,210 | $30,800 | N/A |
| 299 | Aguadilla, PR | $26,080 | $21,840 | $28,160 | N/A |
| 300 | Arecibo, PR | $26,040 | $22,480 | $27,810 | N/A |
| 301 | Mayaguez, PR | $25,960 | $22,730 | $27,540 | N/A |
| 302 | Ponce, PR | $25,380 | $21,840 | $27,120 | N/A |
More
More on debt collectors
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Debt Collector salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays debt collectors the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $78,190 a year, followed by Napa, CA ($73,280), San Francisco, CA ($72,720), San Luis Obispo, CA ($68,910). The national mean is $49,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do debt collectors earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($70,810 at national prices, $78,190 nominal), Rochester, MN ($69,600 at national prices, $63,210 nominal), Napa, CA ($65,110 at national prices, $73,280 nominal).
How much do debt collectors make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $58,450; Los Angeles, CA: $57,470; Chicago, IL-IN: $52,170; Dallas, TX: $48,280; Houston, TX: $45,720 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do debt collectors earn the least?
Of the 302 metro areas with their own estimate, Ponce, PR has the lowest mean wage, $25,380.