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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in the U.S.

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the U.S. earn a median of $49,690 a year ($23.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 147,240 workers.

Median salary
$49,690
Hourly
$23.89
Average
$52,820
Top 10% earn
$75,900
Workers
147,240

Pay ranges from $33,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,900 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $52,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the U.S.

$0$80,000
Pay levelYearlyHourly
10th percentile (entry level)$33,590$16.15
25th percentile$39,080$18.79
Median$49,690$23.89
75th percentile$62,020$29.82
90th percentile (top earners)$75,900$36.49
Average (mean)$52,820$25.39

Half of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.

Median paycheck, before taxes

Pay periodAmount
Monthly$4,140.83
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$2,070.42
Biweekly (26 a year)$1,911.15
Weekly$955.58
Hourly$23.89

Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by state

StateMedian salaryWorkers
Illinois$75,0504,910
Washington$74,6203,750
New York$64,95011,630
California$64,89013,930
Oregon$63,2102,500
Minnesota$62,5702,500
Nevada$61,310770
Delaware$61,290600
Colorado$60,3103,700
Wisconsin$59,8101,550
Utah$59,310960
North Dakota$59,000360
Indiana$58,9003,180
Hawaii$56,270770
Rhode Island$55,970470
District of Columbia$55,490540
New Jersey$54,6304,330
Vermont$51,960160
Michigan$51,0304,020
Massachusetts$50,3101,010
Missouri$50,0101,930
Idaho$49,880730
Iowa$49,8501,780
Montana$49,420370
Nebraska$49,390910
Ohio$49,3304,710
Wyoming$48,820280
Pennsylvania$48,2406,220
Florida$47,82011,650
New Mexico$47,6601,070
Georgia$46,9604,830
Arizona$46,9102,380
New Hampshire$46,580340
Virginia$46,5304,330
Texas$46,33012,860
Alabama$46,2402,790
Alaska$45,740250
Kansas$45,510910
North Carolina$44,6707,250
Maine$43,360770
Tennessee$43,2702,550
Kentucky$43,1001,580
Oklahoma$43,0602,030
Maryland$41,8703,120
Mississippi$39,1701,970
Louisiana$38,8102,200
Connecticut$38,220810
West Virginia$35,8401,000
Arkansas$35,6401,600
South Carolina$34,8802,020
South Dakota$32,950340
Guam$32,52040
Puerto Rico$21,8401,800

Best-paying metro areas for refuse and recyclable material collectors

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$87,430870
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$77,5702,040
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$77,4703,330
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$76,340130
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$75,440750
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,0902,100
Kennewick-Richland, WA$74,18090
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$73,77070
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$73,110320
Napa, CA$72,45090
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$69,3001,230
Salinas, CA$69,21090
Merced, CA$68,53070
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$66,900220
Boulder, CO$66,610110

Metro areas with the most refuse and recyclable material collectors

Metro areaWorkersMedian salary
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ13,310$65,310
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX4,300$47,960
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA4,210$62,490
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL3,370$49,770
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN3,330$77,470
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV3,100$46,530
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA2,950$47,840
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD2,610$59,730
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX2,310$46,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA2,100$75,090
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA2,040$77,570
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO1,970$61,190
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL1,930$47,620
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI1,900$51,070
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC1,840$49,470

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian salaryHourly
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240$19.35
Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330$17.95
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420$22.32
Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280$17.44
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830$17.23
Crane and Tower Operators$68,080$32.73
Machine Feeders and Offbearers$41,220$19.82
Material Moving Workers, All Other$41,800$20.10
Conveyor Operators and Tenders$42,420$20.39
Wellhead Pumper$69,960$33.63
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$58,870$28.30
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$61,770$29.70
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$77,320$37.17
Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450$27.14

More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a refuse and recyclable material collectors make in the U.S.?

The median salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the U.S. is $49,690 a year, or $23.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,900 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid refuse and recyclable material collectors make in the U.S.?

The top 10% of refuse and recyclable material collectors in the U.S. earn at least $75,900 a year. The top 25% earn $62,020 or more.

What is the starting pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the U.S.?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,590 a year, and a quarter of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn $39,080 or less.

How many refuse and recyclable material collectors work in the U.S.?

About 147,240 refuse and recyclable material collectors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.