How to become a Debt Collector

Also called: Debt Recovery Officer

Collects consumer, commercial, insurance and other forms of debt for clients, makes arrangements to settle overdue accounts, formalises payment arrangements, and follows up until accounts are fully paid.

Main tasks

• Liaises with clients, credit staff, accounts receivable departments, process servers, Private Investigators, Barristers, Solicitors, trustees, liquidators and other insolvency professionals to find solutions to payment problems
• Identifies, locates and notifies debtors of overdue accounts in writing, by telephone and in person, and arranges for payments to be made
• Traces addresses of debtors who have moved
• Arranges new repayment plans for debtors having difficulties making existing repayments, including identifying and assisting customers experiencing financial hardship
• Refers debtors' disputes to creditors
• Issues instructions for the commencement of legal action and enforcement to recover money
• Arranges for money and goods collected to be transferred to creditors, and prepares statements of account for creditors
• Records amounts collected and notes any further action required, including identifying and reporting suspicious matters under legislation
• Maintains accurate and compliant records for overdue accounts under collection, ensuring all relevant debtor information is obtained, verified and updated

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Mercantile Agents (FNS30420); Diploma of Credit Management (FNS51522); Graduate Certificate in Client Assessment and Case Management (CHC82015); Certificate III in Business (BSB30120); Certificate III in Financial Services (FNS30122); Certificate IV in Credit Management (FNS40122); Certificate III in Accounts Administration (FNS30322)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $78,988 a year
• About 6,900 people work in this job group now, and about 7,500 are projected by 2035. (+8%)
• Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Debt Collector?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Mercantile Agents; Diploma of Credit Management.

How much does a Debt Collector earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $78,988 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Debt Collector a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 6,900 to about 7,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Debt Collector?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Mercantile Agents; Diploma of Credit Management.

Will AI change the work of a Debt Collector?

Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04