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

The median tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents salary in the United States is $62,370 per year ($29.98/hour). Salaries range from $42,000 (10th percentile) to $114,550 (90th percentile). There are 56,610 tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Is tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents a good career?

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents employment is projected to decline 1.8% from 2024 to 2034 (decline). There are approximately 4,300 job openings per year. Typical education required: Bachelor's degree.

What interview questions are asked for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents roles?

Common tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents interview questions include: "Walk me through how you would audit a small-business schedule C.", "How do you handle a taxpayer who becomes hostile during a field visit?", "Describe a difficult audit or collection case.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example Internal Revenue Service (SB/SE — Small Business/Self-Employed) typically uses 10-16 weeks.

What certifications should tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss get?

Top-ROI certifications for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) ($3,000-6,000 exam + prep + state license fees); Enrolled Agent (EA) ($267 exam (3 parts) + prep and CE); IRS internal training (Phase 1, 2, 3 for Revenue Agents; specialty training for LB&I, TE/GE, CI) ($0 — employer provided).

How do you negotiate a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $62,370, p75 $83,390), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. Salary is set by the GS scale — I'm not negotiating the base. What I can negotiate: (1) starting step within the GS-11 band based on my 30 hours of accounting, CPA sections passed, and 3 years of prior professional expe...

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Salary

Q: Which state pays tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss the most?

The highest paying state for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss is New Jersey at $96,420 median salary.

Q: What is the career ladder for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss?

The typical tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents career ladder: Tax Examiner (Entry) (0-3 yrs, $42-58k (GS-5/7) + FERS pension + TSP + FEHB health) → Revenue Officer / Revenue Agent (Established) (3-8 yrs, $55-82k (GS-9/11) + FERS + TSP + locality pay) → Senior Revenue Agent / Senior Revenue Officer (6-15 yrs, $85-135k (GS-12/13) + FERS + TSP + locality) → Group Manager / Program Manager / Territory Manager (12+ yrs, $115-170k+ (GS-13/14/15) + FERS + TSP + locality).

The median tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents salary in the United States is $62,370 per year ($29.98/hour). Salaries range from $42,000 at the entry level to $114,550+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 56,610 tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 1.8% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary

$62,370

per year

Hourly Rate

$29.98

per hour

Employment

56,610

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$42,000

25th percentile

$49,450

Median

$62,370

75th percentile

$83,390

90th percentile

$114,550

Job Growth (2024-2034)

-1.8%

Decline

Annual Openings

4,300

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss.

Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents work primarily for the IRS, state departments of revenue, and county tax offices. They audit returns, examine complex business filings, collect delinquent tax debt, and represent the government in appeals. Federal IRS Revenue Agents are the high-comp track — $60-155k+ on the GS scale with FERS pension and TSP. Entry Tax Examiner $42-58k; established Revenue Officer $55-82k; Revenue Agent (audit) $65-108k; senior / GS-13 Revenue Agent $95-145k; supervisor / group manager $115-170k+. CPA-eligible Revenue Agents in the IRS Large Business and International division earn the highest.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Tax law fluency (IRC, state tax code, Treasury regulations)

Working knowledge of Subtitle A (income tax), Subtitle B (estate and gift), Subtitle C (employment), and Subtitle F (procedure and administration). Reference Treasury regulations, Revenue Rulings, court decisions, and the Internal Revenue Manual (IRM).

Accounting & financial statement analysis

Read GAAP financial statements, trace income and deductions to the tax return, identify book-tax differences (M-1/M-3 for corporate), and analyze cash flow for collection cases. Most Revenue Agent positions require 30 semester hours of accounting.

Audit techniques & IDR / summons authority

Information Document Request (IDR), summons (Section 7602), third-party contacts, and bank deposit analysis. Audit techniques vary by industry (retail, construction, oil & gas) and are documented in IRS Audit Technique Guides.

Collection procedures & taxpayer contact

Notice of Federal Tax Lien, levy, installment agreements, Offer in Compromise, Currently Not Collectible status, and Trust Fund Recovery Penalty investigations. Revenue Officers make direct field visits to taxpayers.

IRS systems (IDRS, AIMS, ICS)

Integrated Data Retrieval System for account inquiry, Audit Information Management System for case control, and Integrated Collection System for Revenue Officer workflow. Modern IRS work runs on these platforms.

Appeals & litigation support

Route unagreed cases to IRS Appeals; support Tax Court and District Court cases when tax matters end in litigation. Represent the government at conferences with taxpayer representatives (CPAs, EAs, attorneys).

Professional judgment & ethics

IRS employees are bound by IRC Section 7431 (unauthorized disclosure), Section 7433 (unauthorized collection), and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Ethical breaches end careers instantly.

How to Become a Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

1
Meet baseline requirements
U.S. citizen (federal jobs), bachelor's degree, clean criminal background, tax compliance (all personal returns filed and paid), and pass a security clearance / background investigation.
2
Apply through USAJobs.gov for federal or state civil service
IRS Tax Examiner (GS-4/5/7), Revenue Officer (GS-5/7/9), and Revenue Agent (GS-5/7/9) are the entry points. Tax Examiner requires 1 year of general experience; Revenue Agent requires 30 semester hours of accounting.
3
Complete IRS training (Phase 1, 2, 3 for Revenue Agents; equivalent for other roles)
Paid training academy in Ogden or Cincinnati followed by on-the-job training with a mentor. Revenue Agent training is 6-9 months; Revenue Officer training is 4-6 months.
4
Progress through GS levels and specialize
GS-9 within 12-18 months, GS-11 within 2-3 years, GS-12 within 4-6 years, GS-13 within 7-10 years. Specialties: SB/SE (Small Business/Self-Employed), LB&I (Large Business & International), Tax Exempt & Government Entities (TE/GE), or Criminal Investigation (CI) with different training.
5
Advance to Senior Revenue Agent, Group Manager, or specialty track
Group Manager (GS-13/14) supervises 8-14 Revenue Agents or Revenue Officers. LB&I specialists in international tax, transfer pricing, and financial products earn premium GS-13/14. Some experienced agents transition to private-sector tax controversy at CPA firms and law firms.

Career Progression

Tax Examiner (Entry)

0-3 yrs$42-58k (GS-5/7) + FERS pension + TSP + FEHB health

•Examine simple individual returns (correspondence audits)
•Respond to taxpayer inquiries and adjust accounts
•Learn IRS systems and basic tax law
•Progress through paid training academy

Next: Revenue Officer or Revenue Agent at 2-4 years.

Revenue Officer / Revenue Agent (Established)

3-8 yrs$55-82k (GS-9/11) + FERS + TSP + locality pay

•Revenue Officer: field collections, install agreements, levies, Trust Fund cases
•Revenue Agent: examine individual and small-business tax returns, LLC and S-corp audits
•Complete AIMS case files to litigation-ready standard
•Interface with taxpayers and their representatives

Next: Senior Revenue Agent or Revenue Officer at 6-10 years.

Senior Revenue Agent / Senior Revenue Officer

6-15 yrs$85-135k (GS-12/13) + FERS + TSP + locality

•Complex audits — LB&I entities, high-wealth individuals, international, transfer pricing
•Complex Revenue Officer cases — Trust Fund Recovery, corporate collection, jeopardy assessments
•Lead cases in appeals and litigation support
•Mentor GS-9/11 revenue agents

Next: Group Manager at 12-18 years.

Group Manager / Program Manager / Territory Manager

12+ yrs$115-170k+ (GS-13/14/15) + FERS + TSP + locality

•Manage a group of 8-14 Revenue Agents or Revenue Officers
•Own case selection, quality assurance, and inventory management
•Serve as Territory Manager for a geographic area or industry specialty
•Interface with taxpayer counsel, IRS Chief Counsel, and Appeals

Next: Field Director, Deputy Commissioner, or private-sector tax controversy leadership.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through how you would audit a small-business schedule C.technical

Start with the return and prior-year comparisons — any large changes flag interest. Send an IDR requesting bank statements, business records, and receipts for the largest expense categories. Perform a bank deposit analysis — total deposits reconciled to reported gross receipts, less non-taxable deposits. Vouch major expenses to third-party documentation (invoices, canceled checks, receipts). Check for personal-use portions of vehicle, home office, and travel. Interview the taxpayer under Circular 230 or with representative present. Document findings and adjustments per IRM. Interviewers screen for methodology and IRM fluency.

Q2. How do you handle a taxpayer who becomes hostile during a field visit?situational

Stay calm and professional. Do not escalate. Explain that the visit is authorized under Section 7602. If the taxpayer refuses to cooperate, document the refusal and end the visit — do not force entry or confrontation. Return to the office and consult your Group Manager on next steps: summons, third-party contact per Section 7602(c), or referral to Criminal Investigation if there's evidence of tax evasion. Never carry your issuance materials in a way that puts you at physical risk. Field visits sometimes require law enforcement backup.

Q3. Describe a difficult audit or collection case.behavioral

STAR with detail. Situation: cash-intensive restaurant with $2.4M in reported gross receipts but $4.8M in bank deposits over 3 years. Task: your role. Action: bank deposit analysis showing $1.6M in unreported income after non-taxable adjustments; markup analysis using industry cost ratios; interviewed key employees per Section 7602; issued a report proposing $840k in additional tax and penalties. Result: taxpayer accepted 92% of adjustments at close conference; the case did not go to litigation. Interviewers want to hear methodology and defensible adjustments, not aggression.

Q4. Why federal tax work and not public accounting?culture

The honest answer that lands: you like tax substance, government service, and the FERS + TSP retirement package. Federal tax work has a defined career ladder, real pension, PSLF eligibility, and jobs across the country. Public accounting pays more early but has grueling busy seasons and up-or-out pressure. Avoid saying 'better hours' as the only reason — federal work has plenty of hours during the last 90 days of statute expiration. Name a specific reason — a mentor, an interest in tax law, or a case that shaped the direction.

Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer

Show the tracks: senior Revenue Agent with specialty (LB&I, international, TE/GE), Group Manager, or transition to Chief Counsel or private-sector tax controversy. Say which you're leaning toward and why. Naming a specialty (international, transfer pricing, tax-exempt bonds) or a target GS-13 posting signals concrete planning.

Resume Template — Revenue Agent (3-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Revenue Agent (3-8 yrs)

▸IRS Revenue Agent (GS-11) in SB/SE division; closed 42 examinations in FY24 with $6.2M in agreed tax and penalties.
▸Completed IRS Revenue Agent Phase 1, 2, and 3 training; 30 semester hours of accounting; CPA (state) inactive.
▸Zero cases returned from Appeals due to case-file deficiencies; 96% of cases closed agreed at examination level.
▸$78k base + $12k locality + FERS + 5% TSP match + FEHB + FEGLI + $2k performance bonus.

What Gets You Rejected

✗Any tax non-compliance on personal returns disqualifies immediately from federal tax employment.
✗Weak accounting foundation — Revenue Agent positions require 30 semester hours; less won't clear HR.
✗Poor documentation habits — case files that don't hold up on appeal or in court kill the career.
✗Cannot handle taxpayer confrontation professionally.
✗Weak IRM (Internal Revenue Manual) fluency — the IRM is the operating manual for the IRS and every case must follow it.
✗Ethical lapses (unauthorized inspection of returns, disclosure) end careers instantly under Section 7431.
✗Any recent bankruptcy or unresolved tax debt — background investigation catches these.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓Locality pay adjustments — federal salaries include a locality bump (SF Bay 45%, NYC 39%, DC 33%, Boston 32%, LA 34%).
✓Special salary rates for hard-to-fill roles (IT and cyber) add 5-15%.
✓Recruitment bonuses of $5,000-25,000 authorized for LB&I, TE/GE, and CI positions where market is competitive.
✓Student loan repayment programs (up to $10k/year, $60k lifetime) for federal service.
✓FERS pension is the long-term wealth driver — 1.1% per year of service at age 62 with 20 years, plus TSP with 5% match plus Social Security.
✓Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives federal student loans after 10 years of federal service.
✓GS-13 and 14 promotions are competitive — negotiate the vacancy announcement, not the pay (pay is set by GS scale).

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Resume Review — $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

✓ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
✓ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
✓ Missing skills / keywords flagged
✓ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
✓ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Career Kit — $19

✓ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
✓ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
✓ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
✓ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
✓ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
✓ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
✓ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
✓ Detailed salary negotiation script
✓ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
✓ Downloadable PDF for offline access
✓ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription

✓ 7-day money-back guarantee — no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Sample reviews — real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.

“The interview question bank saved me. I got the exact question about 'walking through a DCF' at my Goldman Sachs superday, verbatim.”

— Anonymous, Financial Analyst

“Copy-paste negotiation emails are worth the price alone. I used the 'accepting with counter' template and got an extra $8k signing bonus.”

— Anonymous, Software Developer

“The 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.”

— Anonymous, Registered Nurse

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$42K

$96K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
New Jersey	$96,420	+54.6%	1,430
Alaska	$94,630	+51.7%	60
Arizona	$92,680	+48.6%	230
Connecticut	$89,140	+42.9%	940
Kansas	$88,610	+42.1%	50
Illinois	$80,720	+29.4%	1,350
Minnesota	$79,000	+26.7%	1,150
Ohio	$76,240	+22.2%	990
Massachusetts	$75,560	+21.1%	1,260
Nevada	$75,500	+21.1%	280

Showing 1–10 of 50

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$110,780	+77.6%
Vallejo, CA	$110,780	+77.6%
Worcester, MA	$109,420	+75.4%
Springfield, MA	$107,690	+72.7%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$105,480	+69.1%
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$102,190	+63.8%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$99,300	+59.2%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$98,590	+58.1%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$97,680	+56.6%
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$97,680	+56.6%

Showing 1–10 of 142

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents earning $62,370/year would need 956 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1026 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

See all sports & celebrity salaries →

📈 See how tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents salary trend (2011–2024) →