Bill collectors listen to the reasons debtors didn’t pay their bills and try to help them eliminate the overdue expense by negotiating a repayment plan. Calls from these people might not be so enjoyable to receive, such as when the caller asks you to pay off past due credit card debt or medical bills.

"We want to figure out what is going on and figure out a common solution to help them settle their debt," says Nick Jarman, chief operating officer at Delta Outsource Group Inc., a national debt collection company. "It’s our job to talk with them to understand currently where they are, and then based on our clients, we might have the ability to offer a lower amount to settle their accounts or offer a long-term payment arrangement." Many bill collectors work in a call center for a collection agency rather than the office of the original creditor.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -9.6% employment growth for bill collectors between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 20,100 jobs will be lost.

Bill collectors usually need a high school diploma and call center experience to land a job. Some employers prefer applicants who have completed some college courses, especially in communications, accounting and basic computer skills. On-the-job training is common and generally includes instruction in the company’s policies, the use of software and federal and state laws governing debt collection. Speaking and negotiation skills are essential to the profession and are often learned on the job. Additional education is often necessary to advance to a higher-paying position.