Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Texas
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Texas earn a median of $46,330 a year ($22.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,380 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $49,690. Texas ranks 35th of 51 states for refuse and recyclable material collectors pay. There are 0.91 refuse and recyclable material collectors per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,700, close to the median.
Pay range for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| 25th percentile | $35,880 | $17.25 |
| Median | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| 75th percentile | $50,040 | $24.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,380 | $28.55 |
| Average (mean) | $44,700 | $21.49 |
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 | $3,860.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,930.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,781.92 |
| Weekly | $890.96 |
| Hourly | $22.27 |
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 cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $56,660 | 80 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $50,040 | 1,060 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $49,560 | 1,410 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $48,940 | 250 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $48,650 | 250 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $48,030 | 70 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,960 | 4,300 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,320 | 2,310 |
| Odessa, TX | $46,180 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $45,820 | 110 |
| Tyler, TX | $44,380 | 220 |
| Amarillo, TX | $43,840 | 120 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $40,830 | 130 |
| Victoria, TX | $39,860 | 30 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $39,670 | 80 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,890 | 30 |
| El Paso, TX | $36,850 | 320 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $35,710 | 40 |
| Lubbock, TX | $32,510 | 70 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,140 | 130 |
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.
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $73,280 | $35.23 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $40,780 | $19.61 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $61,170 | $29.41 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $82,120 | $39.48 |
| Dredge Operator | $65,580 | $31.53 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Texas is $46,330 a year, or $22.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Texas?
The top 10% of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Texas earn at least $59,380 a year. The top 25% earn $50,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,830 a year, and a quarter of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn $35,880 or less.
How many refuse and recyclable material collectors work in Texas?
About 12,860 refuse and recyclable material collectors are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.