SOC 43-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bill and Account Collectors — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
In California the median wage for Bill and Account Collectors is $57,930 a year, which is 23.2% higher than the national figure of $47,030.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage for Bill and Account Collectors is $57,930 a year, which is 23.2% higher than the national figure of $47,030. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,130 and $69,840. The lowest tenth earn under $38,520, while the highest tenth earn more than $81,440.
The area has 13,880 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.75 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. California ranks number 4th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $77,360. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 517th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,520 | −18.1% |
| 25th | $47,130 | +0.2% |
| Median (50th) | $57,930 | +23.2% |
| 75th | $69,840 | +48.5% |
| 90th | $81,440 | +73.2% |
| Mean | $59,590 | +26.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $77,360 | 660 | |
| 2 | Napa | $77,160 | 80 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $72,430 | 1,450 | |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo | $64,970 | 80 | |
| 5 | Santa Maria | $61,640 | 110 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $60,390 | 50 | |
| 7 | Visalia | $60,310 | 150 | |
| 8 | Vallejo | $59,740 | 80 | |
| 9 | Fresno | $58,330 | 230 | |
| 10 | Modesto | $57,700 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $57,930 buys what $52,331 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,331US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,930 a year, 23.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,520 to $81,440 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 13,880 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $77,360.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bill and Account Collectors in California?
The median annual wage is $57,930, or $27.85 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $47,030, so pay in California is 23.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $81,440 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,520 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $77,360 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 13,880 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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