How much does a tax examiner and collector make?
The median tax examiner and collector in the United States earns $62,370 per year, about $29.98 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tax examiners and collectors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 13-2081.
Tax examiner and collector salary range
Pay for tax examiners and collectors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $42,000 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $114,550. The average (mean) wage of $70,520 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,000 | $20.19 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $49,450 | $23.77 | |
| Median (50th) | $62,370 | $29.98 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $83,390 | $40.09 | |
| 90th percentile | $114,550 | $55.07 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents (SOC 13-2081), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Tax examiner and collector salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tax examiners and collectors earn the most in New Jersey at $96,420 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $41,860. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $96,420 | 1,430 |
| Alaska | $94,630 | 60 |
| Arizona | $92,680 | 230 |
| Connecticut | $89,140 | 940 |
| Kansas | $88,610 | 50 |
| Illinois | $80,720 | 1,350 |
| Minnesota | $79,000 | 1,150 |
| Ohio | $76,240 | 990 |
| Massachusetts | $75,560 | 1,260 |
| Nevada | $75,500 | 280 |
| California | $74,110 | 8,610 |
| Delaware | $72,900 | 110 |
| Washington | $72,850 | 770 |
| New York | $72,610 | 3,550 |
| North Dakota | $72,230 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $69,870 | 270 |
| Colorado | $69,740 | 620 |
| Hawaii | $67,210 | 80 |
| Maryland | $66,900 | 560 |
| Iowa | $66,860 | 210 |
| Oregon | $65,830 | 430 |
| South Dakota | $63,790 | 120 |
| Montana | $63,610 | 130 |
| Michigan | $63,440 | 1,080 |
| Maine | $63,290 | 350 |
| North Carolina | $61,950 | 1,300 |
| Wyoming | $61,780 | 60 |
| Idaho | $61,110 | 300 |
| South Carolina | $61,110 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $59,990 | 500 |
| Virginia | $59,610 | 1,800 |
| Nebraska | $59,150 | 180 |
| Vermont | $59,010 | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $58,610 | 330 |
| Texas | $58,200 | 3,980 |
| Alabama | $58,100 | 1,300 |
| Kentucky | $57,240 | 1,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,870 | 3,540 |
| Indiana | $56,570 | 550 |
| New Mexico | $56,260 | 190 |
| Georgia | $55,430 | 1,970 |
| Arkansas | $55,140 | 440 |
| Oklahoma | $52,480 | 240 |
| Tennessee | $51,630 | 1,850 |
| West Virginia | $50,730 | 290 |
| Missouri | $50,250 | 2,280 |
| Louisiana | $49,940 | 600 |
| Utah | $49,940 | 3,470 |
| Florida | $46,760 | 3,950 |
| Mississippi | $41,860 | 710 |
State median wages for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents (SOC 13-2081), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for tax examiners and collectors
The BLS projects employment of tax examiners and collectors to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 60,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 59,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 4,400 openings a year for tax examiners and collectors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a tax examiner and collector
The typical entry-level education for tax examiners and collectors is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a tax examiner and collector earns
Firm size, industry, certifications, and years of experience drive the spread. Large firms and major financial centers pay well above small-town or entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Jersey, $96,420) and the lowest (Mississippi, $41,860) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 56,610 people work as tax examiners and collectors in the United States. At $62,370 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Tax examiner and collector salary FAQ
How much does a tax examiner and collector make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a tax examiner and collector is $29.98. The middle half of tax examiners and collectors earn between $23.77 and $40.09 per hour.
What is the highest tax examiner and collector salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tax examiners and collectors earn more than $114,550 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a tax examiner and collector make a year?
The median annual salary for a tax examiner and collector is $62,370. The average (mean) wage of $70,520 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a tax examiner and collector a well paid job?
At $62,370 a year, a tax examiner and collector earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 56,610 people work as tax examiners and collectors in the United States.
Which state pays tax examiners and collectors the most?
New Jersey has the highest median salary for tax examiners and collectors at $96,420 a year. Alaska ($94,630) and Arizona ($92,680) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a tax examiner and collector a good career?
Employment of tax examiners and collectors is projected to shrink 1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 4,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a tax examiner and collector?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tax examiners and collectors as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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