Prevailing Wage for Bill and Account Collectors
Prevailing wage for Bill and Account Collectors is set by the DOL under SOC 43-3011, covering roles filed under titles like Account Representative, Collector, and Accounts Receivable Specialist. DOL publishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city, so the same Collection Specialist role can carry a very different minimum across metro areas.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level collectors with limited experience, typically performing routine account follow-up under close supervision. Workers at this level are still building familiarity with collection workflows, skip-tracing tools, and compliance requirements under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Bill and Account Collectors. It covers qualified professionals who handle accounts independently, apply judgment when negotiating payment arrangements, and need minimal supervisory oversight for standard delinquency cases.
Level 3 applies to experienced collectors who manage complex or high-value delinquency portfolios, train junior staff, and may coordinate repossession or legal referral workflows. They exercise significant independent judgment and are expected to meet performance benchmarks with little direction.
Level 4 covers fully competent, senior-level professionals who may lead a collections team, set recovery strategy, or serve as subject-matter experts on regulatory compliance. Employers filing at Level 4 are typically documenting specialized expertise or supervisory authority over the collections function.
Prevailing Wage for Bill and Account Collectors by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm your title maps to SOC 43-3011
Titles like Debt Collector, Collection Agent, and AR Specialist all fall under SOC 43-3011, but some employers mistakenly file collectors under customer service or administrative SOC codes, which can carry a lower prevailing wage floor. Verify the SOC on your Labor Condition Application before accepting an offer.
Watch for commission exclusions in collections comp
Many Bill and Account Collectors receive recovery bonuses or commission on collected amounts, but DOL's prevailing wage calculation covers base salary only. An offer that relies heavily on variable pay to reach market rate may still fall short of the required base-wage floor under your LCA.
Factor in California metro premiums when comparing offers
San Jose and San Francisco post some of the highest prevailing wages for this occupation nationally, with Level 1 floors significantly above the national median. If you are weighing a Bay Area collection role against a lower-cost market, the required minimum base also rises sharply at every experience level.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with collections hiring history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Bill and Account Collectors or Accounts Receivable Specialists on H-1B or other visa types before. Filtering by sponsorship history helps you prioritize companies that already understand the LCA process for this SOC rather than employers filing for the first time.
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Find Jobs for Bill and Account CollectorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-3011.00 alongside Bill and Account Collectors, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Account Representative Prevailing Wage
Account Representative Prevailing Wage
Account Representative positions fall under SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist) Prevailing Wage
Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Collection Agent Prevailing Wage
Collection Agent Prevailing Wage
Collection Agent is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Collection Specialist Prevailing Wage
Collection Specialist Prevailing Wage
Collection Specialist positions fall under SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Collector Prevailing Wage
Collector Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Collector for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Debt Collector Prevailing Wage
Debt Collector Prevailing Wage
Debt Collector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Patient Access Specialist Prevailing Wage
Patient Access Specialist Prevailing Wage
Patient Access Specialist positions fall under SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Patient Account Representative Prevailing Wage
Patient Account Representative Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Patient Account Representative for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Telephone Collector Prevailing Wage
Telephone Collector Prevailing Wage
Telephone Collector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-3011.00 (Bill and Account Collectors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Bill and Account Collectors?
DOL derives prevailing wages from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Bill and Account Collectors under SOC 43-3011, DOL calculates four wage levels based on regional employer-reported pay data, then publishes those figures in the OFLC wage library. Employers sponsoring a foreign worker must offer at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and supervision: Level 1 is entry-level with close oversight, Level 2 is qualified and largely independent, Level 3 is experienced with complex caseloads or some mentoring responsibility, and Level 4 is fully competent or senior. Your employer determines the level when drafting the Labor Condition Application. Review the job description against DOL's level definitions and confirm the level on the LCA matches what the role actually requires.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same collections role vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so areas with higher employer concentration and cost of living, like San Jose or San Francisco, produce higher survey averages and therefore higher prevailing wage floors. The LCA must list the actual worksite, not a corporate headquarters, so remote or hybrid arrangements require careful worksite designation. OFLC uses this worksite address to pull the correct metro wage when certifying the LCA.
What happens if a sponsored position offers less than the prevailing wage?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and experience level. For H-1B petitions, USCIS requires a certified LCA as a prerequisite, so an underpaying offer can block the petition entirely. For PERM-based green card cases, DOL similarly requires the offered wage to meet or exceed the prevailing wage determination. The employer, not the worker, bears responsibility for correcting a wage deficiency before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Bill and Account Collectors role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 43-3011 for the relevant metropolitan area. Select the fiscal year matching your intended filing period and note the four level wages for your worksite city. You can also cross-reference with O*NET for occupation details. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored Bill and Account Collectors and AR Specialist listings by location, helping you identify which employers are actively hiring in the metros where the prevailing wage aligns with your expectations.
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