How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $23.89 an hour or $4,141 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.89
- Average (mean)
- $52,820
- Jobs
- 147,240
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,590 | $16.15 | |
| 25th | $39,080 | $18.79 | |
| Median | $49,690 | $23.89 | |
| 75th | $62,020 | $29.82 | |
| 90th | $75,900 | $36.49 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| 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 |
| Utah | $59,310 |
| North Dakota | $59,000 |
| Indiana | $58,900 |
| Hawaii | $56,270 |
| Rhode Island | $55,970 |
| District of Columbia | $55,490 |
| New Jersey | $54,630 |
| Vermont | $51,960 |
| Michigan | $51,030 |
| Massachusetts | $50,310 |
| Missouri | $50,010 |
| Idaho | $49,880 |
| Iowa | $49,850 |
| Montana | $49,420 |
| Nebraska | $49,390 |
| Ohio | $49,330 |
| Wyoming | $48,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,240 |
| Florida | $47,820 |
| New Mexico | $47,660 |
| Georgia | $46,960 |
| Arizona | $46,910 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 |
| Virginia | $46,530 |
| Texas | $46,330 |
| Alabama | $46,240 |
| Alaska | $45,740 |
| Kansas | $45,510 |
| North Carolina | $44,670 |
| Maine | $43,360 |
| Tennessee | $43,270 |
| Kentucky | $43,100 |
| Oklahoma | $43,060 |
| Maryland | $41,870 |
| Mississippi | $39,170 |
| Louisiana | $38,810 |
| Connecticut | $38,220 |
| West Virginia | $35,840 |
| Arkansas | $35,640 |
| South Carolina | $34,880 |
| South Dakota | $32,950 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $87,430 |
| San Francisco, CA | $77,570 |
| Chicago, IL | $77,470 |
| Olympia, WA | $76,340 |
| Davenport, IA | $75,440 |
| Seattle, WA | $75,090 |
| Kennewick, WA | $74,180 |
| Bremerton, WA | $73,770 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $73,110 |
| Napa, CA | $72,450 |
| San Diego, CA | $69,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $69,210 |
| Merced, CA | $68,530 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $66,900 |
| Boulder, CO | $66,610 |
In other countries
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector belongs to the international group "Garbage and recycling collectors".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Conveyor Operator and Tender$42,420
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Dredge Operator$49,640
- Hoist and Winch Operator$56,450
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,420
- Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$35,830
- Laborer and Freight$40,240
- Machine Feeder and Offbearer$41,220
- Packer and Packager$36,280
- Stocker and Order Filler$37,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $23.89 ($49,690 a year).
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make a month?
About $4,141 a month before tax, based on a median of $49,690 a year.
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $33,590 or less a year ($16.15 an hour); the top 10% make $75,900 or more.
Which state pays refuse and recyclable material collectors the most?
Illinois, with a median of $75,050 a year, followed by Washington ($74,620) and New York ($64,950).
Which city pays refuse and recyclable material collectors the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $87,430 a year.
How many refuse and recyclable material collectors are there in the United States?
About 147,240 people work as refuse and recyclable material collectors.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.