How much does a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agent make?

The median pay is $29.98 per hour — roughly $62,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.19/hr (10th percentile) to $55.07/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agent?

The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

What does a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agent actually do all day?

Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent. Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns. Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.

Business & Finance

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

What it pays
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents earn a median of $29.98/hr — about $62,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.19/hr; the top 10% earn $55.07/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent.
Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.
Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.
Maintain records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
Contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
Answer questions from taxpayers and assist them in completing tax forms.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 0% of tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, take-charge and people-focused.

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Quick questions

How much does a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agent make?: The median pay is $29.98 per hour — roughly $62,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.19/hr (10th percentile) to $55.07/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agent?: The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agent actually do all day?: Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent. Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns. Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.