Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $41,420 a year ($19.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,260 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $49,690. Pay here is 16% higher than the Arkansas statewide median of $35,640. There are 1.4 refuse and recyclable material collectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,430, close to the median.
Pay range for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,900 | $13.41 |
| 25th percentile | $33,270 | $16.00 |
| Median | $41,420 | $19.92 |
| 75th percentile | $45,430 | $21.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Average (mean) | $39,430 | $18.96 |
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 period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,451.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,725.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,593.08 |
| Weekly | $796.54 |
| Hourly | $19.92 |
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 in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $50,540 | 590 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,470 | 890 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $40,540 | 180 |
| Tulsa, OK | $38,330 | 540 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $38,200 | 320 |
| Lawton, OK | $37,490 | 50 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,890 | 30 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $35,330 | 50 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $30,460 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for refuse and recyclable material collectors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $75,050 |
| Washington | $74,620 |
| New York | $64,950 |
| California | $64,890 |
| Oregon | $63,210 |
| Minnesota | $62,570 |
| Nevada | $61,310 |
| Delaware | $61,290 |
| Colorado | $60,310 |
| Wisconsin | $59,810 |
See Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $34,810 | $16.74 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $44,330 | $21.31 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Light Truck Driver | $35,560 | $17.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,120 | $18.33 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $32,770 | $15.76 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $47,910 | $23.04 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $41,420 a year, or $19.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of refuse and recyclable material collectors in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $48,260 a year. The top 25% earn $45,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,900 a year, and a quarter of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn $33,270 or less.
How many refuse and recyclable material collectors work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 130 refuse and recyclable material collectors are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.