Collectors

(NOC 1435)

in All Business, Finance, and Administration

Collectors collect payments on overdue accounts and bad cheques and locate debtors to make collection arrangements. They work for collection agencies, utility companies, department stores, loan companies, banks and credit unions, and by financial and licensing departments within governments.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 10 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

  • Estimate 3555 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 9370 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$26.00

Median

$32.72

Maximum

Annual Pay

$15,803

Minimum

$43,364

Median

$65,228

Maximum

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$23.00

Median

$38.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,754

Minimum

$36,515

Median

$70,271

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Collectors collect payments on overdue accounts and bad cheques and locate debtors to make collection arrangements. They work for collection agencies, utility companies, department stores, loan companies, banks and credit unions, and by financial and licensing departments within governments.

Job duties

Collectors:

  • Notify debtors of overdue payments and accounts by telephone, mail, and registered mail, and continue the notification process if reply is not received.
  • Resolve collection issues by making payment arrangements by telephone or visit to debtor.
  • Recommend further action or discontinuation of service in cases where payment is not forthcoming.
  • Trace and locate debtors, and may contact debtors' friends, neighbours, relatives and employers to get information.
  • Answer correspondence, prepare reports, and maintain records and files related to collection work.
  • May work with on-line accounts and systems.

Sample job titles

  • bill collector
  • collection clerk
  • collection officer (except taxation)
  • collector
  • credit and collection clerk
  • financial collector
  • inspector and bill collector
  • loan collector

Skills

  • Good communication and interpersonal skills are important, along with a willingness to learn and adapt to continually changing equipment and software. Basic mathematical skills are required, and you should be comfortable handling basic financial transactions. Your work must be accurate and you should enjoy repetitive tasks. Familiarity with computer software and other office equipment is needed. You should also be cooperative and able to work as part of a team.

Job requirements

  • High school is required.
  • A business college diploma may be required.
  • A period of on-the-job training is often provided for collection clerks and collection officers.
  • A collections licence issued by the province or territory of employment is usually required.

Other considerations

  • Movement to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

200

employed in 2016

85.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

57.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
42.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.8

median age

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

63,775

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

73.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
26.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.9

median age

Where will I likely work?

62.5%

Halifax

$43,023 median annual income
12.5%

North Shore

N/A
12.5%

Cape Breton

N/A
7.5%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
5.0%

Southern

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

42.4%

Public administration

24.2%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

15.2%

Finance and insurance

6.1%

Wholesale trade

6.1%

Retail trade

What is the age of Employment?

33.0%

45-54

26.0%

35-44

14.0%

55-64

12.0%

25-34

10.0%

65+

5.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

26.3%

45-54

22.6%

55-64

19.4%

35-44

16.7%

25-34

7.5%

65+

Top levels of education

35.0%

High school

$49,543 median annual income
27.5%

College Diploma

$33,205 median annual income
25.0%

Bachelor

$48,517 median annual income
7.5%

Less than high school

N/A
5.0%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

33.8%

College Diploma

$36,304 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$32,903 median annual income
22.8%

Bachelor

$41,755 median annual income
5.8%

Trade Certification

$34,807 median annual income
4.9%

Less than high school

$23,174 median annual income

Education & training

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Association of Administrative Professionals
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.