Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents earn a median of $62,370 per year ($29.98/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 1.0% through 2035, with about 4,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-2081
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent in four numbers
- Median pay
- $62,370a year, or $29.98/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $42KTop 10% $115K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -1.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4,40060,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202560.1K
- Projected 203559.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 60.1K Projected 2035 59.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school23.2%
- Some college13.7%
- Associate's25.6%
- Bachelor's33.6%
- Master's3.7%
- Professional degree0.2%
Highest education held by tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents Segment Value High school 23.2% Some college 13.7% Associate's 25.6% Bachelor's 33.6% Master's 3.7% Professional degree 0.2%
Also advertised as: City Tax Auditor, Collections Specialist, Revenue Agent, Revenue Collector, Revenue Officer, Revenue Specialist.
Pay
How much do Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents make?
Every tax examiner and collector, and revenue agent in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$62,370
Middle half earn $49,450 to $83,390
- 10th
- $42,000
- 25th
- $49,450
- 75th
- $83,390
- 90th
- $114,550
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $42,000 |
| 25th | $49,450 |
| Median | $62,370 |
| 75th | $83,390 |
| 90th | $114,550 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $62,370
- Median hourly wage
- $29.98/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $70,520
- People employed
- 56,610
Versus all US occupations
At $62,370, Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents earn 22% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,390 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 23% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $114,550 or more while the bottom 10% earn $42,000, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 36% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New Jersey posts the highest raw median ($96,420), but once local prices are taken into account Kansas leads at $98,381 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $96,420 | $88,617 | 1,430 |
| 2Alaska | $94,630 | $92,449 | 60 |
| 3Arizona | $92,680 | $92,057 | 230 |
| 4Connecticut | $89,140 | $86,034 | 940 |
| 5Kansas | $88,610 | $98,381 | 50 |
| 6Illinois | $80,720 | $80,754 | 1,350 |
| 7Minnesota | $79,000 | $80,105 | 1,150 |
| 8Ohio | $76,240 | $82,178 | 990 |
| 9Massachusetts | $75,560 | $71,447 | 1,260 |
| 10Nevada | $75,500 | $75,516 | 280 |
Job outlook
Is Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -1.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | −1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents to change -1.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 600 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 4,400 openings are projected each year, 7.3% of the 60,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Getting in
How to become a Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents typically need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. However, the required level of education and experience varies with the position and employer.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents.
- Bachelor's Degree33.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree25.6%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)23.2%
- Some College Courses13.7%
- Master's Degree3.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 33.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 25.6% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 23.2% |
| Some College Courses | 13.7% |
| Master's Degree | 3.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent do?
Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents determine how much is owed in taxes and collect tax from individuals and businesses on behalf of federal, state, and local governments. They review tax returns, conduct audits, identify taxes owed, and collect overdue tax payments.
Day-to-day tasks
- Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.
- Maintain records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
- Contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
- Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent.
- Answer questions from taxpayers and assist them in completing tax forms.
- Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Federal government46%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals35%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals19%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal government | 46% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 35% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 19% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.3
- Mathematics3.3
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Negotiation3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Persuasion2.9
- Instructing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Tax preparation software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Compliance software
- Document management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 7 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.8
- Enterprising4.4
- Social3.1
- Investigative2.5
- Realistic1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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Median annual pay, with tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
- Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent$62,370
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
| Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent | $62,370 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent appears on
Questions
Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent: frequently asked questions
How much do Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents make?
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents earn a median of $62,370 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 22% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.98/hr. The middle half earn between $49,450 and $83,390. The top 10% earn $114,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 33.6% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 1.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 600 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 4,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent do?
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents determine how much is owed in taxes and collect tax from individuals and businesses on behalf of federal, state, and local governments. A core O*NET task: notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents the most?
The highest state medians for Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents are New Jersey ($96,420), Alaska ($94,630), Arizona ($92,680) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Kansas moves to the top at $98,381.
What personality type suits a Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent?
O*NET scores Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.