53 Series · SOC 53-7081
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $49,690
- Median / year
- +2.8%
- 2024→2025
- $75,900
- Top 10% earn
- +0.9%
- Growth '24–'34
- 147,240
- Estimated US jobs
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors earn a median of $49,690 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $49,690, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,590 (10th percentile) to $75,900 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 147,240 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Illinois ($75,050).
The pay verdict
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors earn a median of $49,690, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 32% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #28 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.9% by 2034.
- $49,690
- Median annual wage
- Top 68%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #28 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Illinois at $75,050. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors moved from $37,840 in May 2019 to $49,690 in May 2025 (+31.3%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors sits +6.9 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (SOC 53-7081) has a national median of $49,690 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $33,590 to $75,900, and the published mean is $52,820. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 147,240 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 53 state or territory areas and 441 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $48,350 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $49,690 in May 2025, a rise of $1,340 (+2.8%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as slower than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 16,900 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns No formal educational credential as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) publish an occupation-specific rate that produces a WageDex safety grade of C, with a fatality rate of 33 per 100,000 and injury rate of 6.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Illinois pays the highest state median at $75,050, which is +51% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $87,430. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$49,690
per year
Median Hourly
$23.89/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$52,820
average
Employment
147,240
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$49,690 Bottom 32% higher than 32% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$49,690 · 32nd percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Laborers and Freight…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.5%, Median annual wage $40240
- Stockers and Order F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $37330
- Heavy and Tractor-Tr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $58640
- Light Truck Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $44860
- Industrial Truck and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $46420
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $62890
- Packers and Packager…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.4%, Median annual wage $36280
- Driver/Sales Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.8%, Median annual wage $38770
- Bus Drivers, School: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $47920
- Cleaners of Vehicles…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $35830
- Shuttle Drivers and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $37290
- Bus Drivers, Transit…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $59050
- Refuse and Recyclabl…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $49690
- Parking Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $35150
- Flight Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.2%, Median annual wage $63580
- Airline Pilots, Copi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $232140
- Automotive and Water…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1%, Median annual wage $35670
- Commercial Pilots: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $123220
- Motor Vehicle Operat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6%, Median annual wage $37180
- Railroad Conductors …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $78000
- Crane and Tower Oper…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $68080
- Machine Feeders and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -13%, Median annual wage $41220
- Taxi Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.1%, Median annual wage $42100
- Captains, Mates, and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $92460
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.9%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
16,900
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+1,300
147,900 (2024) → 149,200 (2034)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
WageDex derived grade from BLS CFOI/SOII 2023, not an official BLS rating
Fatality Rate
33/100K
Injury Rate
6.5/100
Danger Index
42.5/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
- ▸ Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
- ▸ Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
- ▸ Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.
- ▸ Fill out defective equipment reports.
- ▸ Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
- ▸ Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
- ▸ Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse.
- ▸ Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, or other maintenance problems.
- ▸ Check road or weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $33,800 |
| 2016 | $35,270 |
| 2017 | $36,160 |
| 2018 | $37,260 |
| 2019 | $37,840 |
| 2020 | $39,100 |
| 2021 | $38,500 |
| 2022 | $43,540 |
| 2023 | $45,760 |
| 2024 | $48,350 |
| 2025 | $49,690 |
2015 median
$33,800
2025 median
$49,690
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$11,850 (+31.3%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+4.6%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $33,800 | First banked release | 114,220 |
| May 2016 | $35,270 | +4.3% | 114,680 |
| May 2017 | $36,160 | +2.5% | 115,130 |
| May 2018 | $37,260 | +3.0% | 118,520 |
| May 2019 | $37,840 | Classification break | 121,330 |
| May 2020 | $39,100 | +3.3% | 120,850 |
| May 2021 | $38,500 | -1.5% | 126,050 |
| May 2022 | $43,540 | +13.1% | 132,240 |
| May 2023 | $45,760 | +5.1% | 135,430 |
| May 2024 | $48,350 | +5.7% | 139,180 |
| May 2025 | $49,690 | +2.8% | 147,240 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $33,800 in May 2015 to $49,690 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.6% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 121,330 in May 2019 to 147,240 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $75,050 | +51% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $74,620 | +50% above national |
| 3 | New York | $64,950 | +31% above national |
| 4 | California | $64,890 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $63,210 | +27% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $62,570 | +26% above national |
| 7 | Nevada | $61,310 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Delaware | $61,290 | +23% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $60,310 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $59,810 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Utah | $59,310 | +19% above national |
| 12 | North Dakota | $59,000 | +19% above national |
| 13 | Indiana | $58,900 | +19% above national |
| 14 | Hawaii | $56,270 | +13% above national |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $55,970 | +13% above national |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $55,490 | +12% above national |
| 17 | New Jersey | $54,630 | +10% above national |
| 18 | Vermont | $51,960 | +5% above national |
| 19 | Michigan | $51,030 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $50,310 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Missouri | $50,010 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Idaho | $49,880 | same as national |
| 23 | Iowa | $49,850 | same as national |
| 24 | Montana | $49,420 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Nebraska | $49,390 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Ohio | $49,330 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Wyoming | $48,820 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $48,240 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Florida | $47,820 | 4% below national |
| 30 | New Mexico | $47,660 | 4% below national |
| 31 | Georgia | $46,960 | 5% below national |
| 32 | Arizona | $46,910 | 6% below national |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $46,580 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Virginia | $46,530 | 6% below national |
| 35 | Texas | $46,330 | 7% below national |
| 36 | Alabama | $46,240 | 7% below national |
| 37 | Alaska | $45,740 | 8% below national |
| 38 | Kansas | $45,510 | 8% below national |
| 39 | North Carolina | $44,670 | 10% below national |
| 40 | Maine | $43,360 | 13% below national |
| 41 | Tennessee | $43,270 | 13% below national |
| 42 | Kentucky | $43,100 | 13% below national |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $43,060 | 13% below national |
| 44 | Maryland | $41,870 | 16% below national |
| 45 | Mississippi | $39,170 | 21% below national |
| 46 | Louisiana | $38,810 | 22% below national |
| 47 | Connecticut | $38,220 | 23% below national |
| 48 | West Virginia | $35,840 | 28% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $35,640 | 28% below national |
| 50 | South Carolina | $34,880 | 30% below national |
| 51 | South Dakota | $32,950 | 34% below national |
| 52 | Guam | $32,520 | 35% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $21,840 | 56% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 313 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $87,430 | +76% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $77,570 | +56% above national |
| 3 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,470 | +56% above national |
| 4 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $76,340 | +54% above national |
| 5 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $75,440 | +52% above national |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,090 | +51% above national |
| 7 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $74,180 | +49% above national |
| 8 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $73,770 | +48% above national |
| 9 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $73,110 | +47% above national |
| 10 | Napa, CA | $72,450 | +46% above national |
| 11 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $69,300 | +39% above national |
| 12 | Salinas, CA | $69,210 | +39% above national |
| 13 | Merced, CA | $68,530 | +38% above national |
| 14 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $66,900 | +35% above national |
| 15 | Boulder, CO | $66,610 | +34% above national |
| 16 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $66,230 | +33% above national |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $65,950 | +33% above national |
| 18 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $65,950 | +33% above national |
| 19 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65,920 | +33% above national |
| 20 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $65,310 | +31% above national |
| 21 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $65,270 | +31% above national |
| 22 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $64,440 | +30% above national |
| 23 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,410 | +30% above national |
| 24 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $64,080 | +29% above national |
| 25 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $63,640 | +28% above national |
| 26 | Albany, OR | $63,210 | +27% above national |
| 27 | Medford, OR | $62,730 | +26% above national |
| 28 | Rochester, MN | $62,500 | +26% above national |
| 29 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,490 | +26% above national |
| 30 | Bend, OR | $62,330 | +25% above national |
| 31 | Salem, OR | $62,020 | +25% above national |
| 32 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,940 | +25% above national |
| 33 | Vallejo, CA | $61,930 | +25% above national |
| 34 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $61,800 | +24% above national |
| 35 | Reno, NV | $61,740 | +24% above national |
| 36 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $61,680 | +24% above national |
| 37 | Mankato, MN | $61,440 | +24% above national |
| 38 | Yakima, WA | $61,370 | +24% above national |
| 39 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $61,320 | +23% above national |
| 40 | Chico, CA | $61,250 | +23% above national |
| 41 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,190 | +23% above national |
| 42 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $61,140 | +23% above national |
| 43 | Duluth, MN-WI | $61,020 | +23% above national |
| 44 | Muncie, IN | $60,940 | +23% above national |
| 45 | Fargo, ND-MN | $60,840 | +22% above national |
| 46 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,750 | +22% above national |
| 47 | Bismarck, ND | $60,640 | +22% above national |
| 48 | Springfield, IL | $60,570 | +22% above national |
| 49 | Kenosha, WI | $60,400 | +22% above national |
| 50 | Walla Walla, WA | $60,330 | +21% above national |
| 51 | Modesto, CA | $60,110 | +21% above national |
| 52 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $60,080 | +21% above national |
| 53 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $59,830 | +20% above national |
| 54 | Madison, WI | $59,810 | +20% above national |
| 55 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $59,760 | +20% above national |
| 56 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,730 | +20% above national |
| 57 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $59,710 | +20% above national |
| 58 | Bozeman, MT | $59,660 | +20% above national |
| 59 | Saginaw, MI | $59,620 | +20% above national |
| 60 | Chambersburg, PA | $59,380 | +20% above national |
| 61 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $59,140 | +19% above national |
| 62 | Peoria, IL | $59,070 | +19% above national |
| 63 | Ogden, UT | $59,060 | +19% above national |
| 64 | St. Cloud, MN | $58,980 | +19% above national |
| 65 | Eau Claire, WI | $58,880 | +18% above national |
| 66 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $58,810 | +18% above national |
| 67 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $58,680 | +18% above national |
| 68 | Fort Wayne, IN | $58,650 | +18% above national |
| 69 | Colorado Springs, CO | $58,530 | +18% above national |
| 70 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $58,320 | +17% above national |
| 71 | Evansville, IN | $57,750 | +16% above national |
| 72 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $57,650 | +16% above national |
| 73 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $57,560 | +16% above national |
| 74 | Columbus, OH | $57,510 | +16% above national |
| 75 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,490 | +16% above national |
| 76 | Terre Haute, IN | $57,010 | +15% above national |
| 77 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $56,990 | +15% above national |
| 78 | Iowa City, IA | $56,810 | +14% above national |
| 79 | Midland, TX | $56,660 | +14% above national |
| 80 | Minot, ND | $56,340 | +13% above national |
| 81 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $56,280 | +13% above national |
| 82 | Greeley, CO | $56,160 | +13% above national |
| 83 | Rochester, NY | $56,080 | +13% above national |
| 84 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $56,020 | +13% above national |
| 85 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $55,810 | +12% above national |
| 86 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $55,620 | +12% above national |
| 87 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $55,130 | +11% above national |
| 88 | Cleveland, OH | $55,090 | +11% above national |
| 89 | Idaho Falls, ID | $55,080 | +11% above national |
| 90 | Grand Junction, CO | $54,930 | +11% above national |
| 91 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $53,510 | +8% above national |
| 92 | Helena, MT | $52,800 | +6% above national |
| 93 | Springfield, MA | $52,450 | +6% above national |
| 94 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $52,340 | +5% above national |
| 95 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $52,060 | +5% above national |
| 96 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $51,960 | +5% above national |
| 97 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $51,610 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Omaha, NE-IA | $51,530 | +4% above national |
| 99 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $51,490 | +4% above national |
| 100 | Ithaca, NY | $51,320 | +3% above national |
| 101 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $51,110 | +3% above national |
| 102 | Huntsville, AL | $51,090 | +3% above national |
| 103 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,080 | +3% above national |
| 104 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $51,080 | +3% above national |
| 105 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $51,070 | +3% above national |
| 106 | Knoxville, TN | $51,030 | +3% above national |
| 107 | Barnstable Town, MA | $50,990 | +3% above national |
| 108 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,980 | +3% above national |
| 109 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,820 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $50,770 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Boise City, ID | $50,740 | +2% above national |
| 112 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,540 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $50,210 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Mansfield, OH | $50,210 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Jackson, TN | $50,050 | +1% above national |
| 116 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $50,040 | +1% above national |
| 117 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $50,030 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Albany, GA | $50,010 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $49,940 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $49,920 | same as national |
| 121 | Syracuse, NY | $49,810 | same as national |
| 122 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $49,770 | same as national |
| 123 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,730 | same as national |
| 124 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $49,670 | same as national |
| 125 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $49,620 | same as national |
| 126 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $49,580 | same as national |
| 127 | Gainesville, GA | $49,580 | same as national |
| 128 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $49,560 | same as national |
| 129 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $49,470 | same as national |
| 130 | Traverse City, MI | $49,450 | same as national |
| 131 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $49,440 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Joplin, MO-KS | $49,250 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Richmond, VA | $49,150 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $49,020 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $49,010 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Corpus Christi, TX | $48,940 | 2% below national |
| 137 | State College, PA | $48,940 | 2% below national |
| 138 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $48,920 | 2% below national |
| 139 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $48,870 | 2% below national |
| 140 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $48,850 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Savannah, GA | $48,770 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $48,760 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $48,650 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Pocatello, ID | $48,580 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,570 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Mobile, AL | $48,460 | 2% below national |
| 147 | Paducah, KY-IL | $48,460 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,430 | 3% below national |
| 149 | Dalton, GA | $48,420 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Flint, MI | $48,270 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Lincoln, NE | $48,190 | 3% below national |
| 152 | Monroe, MI | $48,160 | 3% below national |
| 153 | Sumter, SC | $48,160 | 3% below national |
| 154 | Jacksonville, FL | $48,150 | 3% below national |
| 155 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $48,140 | 3% below national |
| 156 | Wichita, KS | $48,120 | 3% below national |
| 157 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $48,100 | 3% below national |
| 158 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $48,030 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Billings, MT | $48,010 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Green Bay, WI | $48,000 | 3% below national |
| 161 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,960 | 3% below national |
| 162 | Birmingham, AL | $47,930 | 4% below national |
| 163 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $47,920 | 4% below national |
| 164 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $47,840 | 4% below national |
| 165 | Akron, OH | $47,830 | 4% below national |
| 166 | Greenville, NC | $47,830 | 4% below national |
| 167 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $47,830 | 4% below national |
| 168 | Ames, IA | $47,810 | 4% below national |
| 169 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $47,700 | 4% below national |
| 170 | Elizabethtown, KY | $47,700 | 4% below national |
| 171 | Utica-Rome, NY | $47,700 | 4% below national |
| 172 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $47,690 | 4% below national |
| 173 | Lynchburg, VA | $47,670 | 4% below national |
| 174 | Santa Fe, NM | $47,660 | 4% below national |
| 175 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,620 | 4% below national |
| 176 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $47,550 | 4% below national |
| 177 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $47,490 | 4% below national |
| 178 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $47,460 | 4% below national |
| 179 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $47,320 | 5% below national |
| 180 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $47,230 | 5% below national |
| 181 | Fayetteville, NC | $47,220 | 5% below national |
| 182 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,170 | 5% below national |
| 183 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $47,150 | 5% below national |
| 184 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $47,040 | 5% below national |
| 185 | York-Hanover, PA | $47,040 | 5% below national |
| 186 | Tallahassee, FL | $46,930 | 6% below national |
| 187 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $46,910 | 6% below national |
| 188 | New Haven, CT | $46,900 | 6% below national |
| 189 | Springfield, MO | $46,790 | 6% below national |
| 190 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $46,770 | 6% below national |
| 191 | Pueblo, CO | $46,750 | 6% below national |
| 192 | Worcester, MA | $46,740 | 6% below national |
| 193 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $46,640 | 6% below national |
| 194 | Valdosta, GA | $46,640 | 6% below national |
| 195 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $46,560 | 6% below national |
| 196 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,530 | 6% below national |
| 197 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,430 | 7% below national |
| 198 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $46,400 | 7% below national |
| 199 | Erie, PA | $46,380 | 7% below national |
| 200 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $46,340 | 7% below national |
| 201 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,320 | 7% below national |
| 202 | Ann Arbor, MI | $46,310 | 7% below national |
| 203 | Redding, CA | $46,290 | 7% below national |
| 204 | Punta Gorda, FL | $46,280 | 7% below national |
| 205 | Winchester, VA-WV | $46,280 | 7% below national |
| 206 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $46,210 | 7% below national |
| 207 | Odessa, TX | $46,180 | 7% below national |
| 208 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $46,160 | 7% below national |
| 209 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $46,160 | 7% below national |
| 210 | Visalia, CA | $46,090 | 7% below national |
| 211 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $46,040 | 7% below national |
| 212 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,960 | 8% below national |
| 213 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $45,960 | 8% below national |
| 214 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $45,940 | 8% below national |
| 215 | Harrisonburg, VA | $45,850 | 8% below national |
| 216 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $45,820 | 8% below national |
| 217 | Ocala, FL | $45,670 | 8% below national |
| 218 | Lima, OH | $45,600 | 8% below national |
| 219 | Lancaster, PA | $45,540 | 8% below national |
| 220 | Asheville, NC | $45,520 | 8% below national |
| 221 | Toledo, OH | $45,500 | 8% below national |
| 222 | Wilmington, NC | $45,270 | 9% below national |
| 223 | Gainesville, FL | $44,880 | 10% below national |
| 224 | Sebring, FL | $44,800 | 10% below national |
| 225 | Winston-Salem, NC | $44,670 | 10% below national |
| 226 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,470 | 11% below national |
| 227 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,450 | 11% below national |
| 228 | Tyler, TX | $44,380 | 11% below national |
| 229 | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,300 | 11% below national |
| 230 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $44,120 | 11% below national |
| 231 | Decatur, AL | $44,020 | 11% below national |
| 232 | Amarillo, TX | $43,840 | 12% below national |
| 233 | Topeka, KS | $43,580 | 12% below national |
| 234 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $43,510 | 12% below national |
| 235 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $43,400 | 13% below national |
| 236 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $43,250 | 13% below national |
| 237 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $43,160 | 13% below national |
| 238 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $42,120 | 15% below national |
| 239 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $41,420 | 17% below national |
| 240 | Burlington, NC | $41,030 | 17% below national |
| 241 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $40,830 | 18% below national |
| 242 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $40,650 | 18% below national |
| 243 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $40,540 | 18% below national |
| 244 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $40,370 | 19% below national |
| 245 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $39,950 | 20% below national |
| 246 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $39,930 | 20% below national |
| 247 | Jackson, MS | $39,900 | 20% below national |
| 248 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $39,900 | 20% below national |
| 249 | Victoria, TX | $39,860 | 20% below national |
| 250 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $39,670 | 20% below national |
| 251 | Dothan, AL | $39,350 | 21% below national |
| 252 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $39,070 | 21% below national |
| 253 | Roanoke, VA | $39,070 | 21% below national |
| 254 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $39,040 | 21% below national |
| 255 | Reading, PA | $38,760 | 22% below national |
| 256 | Tucson, AZ | $38,630 | 22% below national |
| 257 | Bangor, ME | $38,570 | 22% below national |
| 258 | Lake Charles, LA | $38,330 | 23% below national |
| 259 | Tulsa, OK | $38,330 | 23% below national |
| 260 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $38,250 | 23% below national |
| 261 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $38,200 | 23% below national |
| 262 | Morristown, TN | $38,020 | 23% below national |
| 263 | Hammond, LA | $37,920 | 24% below national |
| 264 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $37,890 | 24% below national |
| 265 | Charleston, WV | $37,850 | 24% below national |
| 266 | Montgomery, AL | $37,630 | 24% below national |
| 267 | Charlottesville, VA | $37,540 | 24% below national |
| 268 | Cleveland, TN | $37,540 | 24% below national |
| 269 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $37,510 | 25% below national |
| 270 | Lawton, OK | $37,490 | 25% below national |
| 271 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $37,320 | 25% below national |
| 272 | Monroe, LA | $37,190 | 25% below national |
| 273 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $37,160 | 25% below national |
| 274 | Columbus, GA-AL | $37,090 | 25% below national |
| 275 | Hattiesburg, MS | $37,070 | 25% below national |
| 276 | Jacksonville, NC | $37,020 | 25% below national |
| 277 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,960 | 26% below national |
| 278 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,890 | 26% below national |
| 279 | Spartanburg, SC | $36,880 | 26% below national |
| 280 | El Paso, TX | $36,850 | 26% below national |
| 281 | Bowling Green, KY | $36,810 | 26% below national |
| 282 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $36,650 | 26% below national |
| 283 | Las Cruces, NM | $36,640 | 26% below national |
| 284 | Lafayette, LA | $36,470 | 27% below national |
| 285 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $36,380 | 27% below national |
| 286 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $36,280 | 27% below national |
| 287 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,160 | 27% below national |
| 288 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,090 | 27% below national |
| 289 | Anchorage, AK | $36,030 | 27% below national |
| 290 | Altoona, PA | $35,930 | 28% below national |
| 291 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,840 | 28% below national |
| 292 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $35,830 | 28% below national |
| 293 | Beckley, WV | $35,710 | 28% below national |
| 294 | Eagle Pass, TX | $35,710 | 28% below national |
| 295 | Alexandria, LA | $35,500 | 29% below national |
| 296 | Jonesboro, AR | $35,330 | 29% below national |
| 297 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,190 | 29% below national |
| 298 | Springfield, OH | $35,080 | 29% below national |
| 299 | Columbia, SC | $34,800 | 30% below national |
| 300 | Florence, SC | $32,540 | 35% below national |
| 301 | Lubbock, TX | $32,510 | 35% below national |
| 302 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $31,390 | 37% below national |
| 303 | Hot Springs, AR | $30,460 | 39% below national |
| 304 | Rapid City, SD | $29,960 | 40% below national |
| 305 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,140 | 41% below national |
| 306 | Johnson City, TN | $28,880 | 42% below national |
| 307 | Rocky Mount, NC | $26,580 | 47% below national |
| 308 | Arecibo, PR | $21,970 | 56% below national |
| 309 | Ponce, PR | $21,910 | 56% below national |
| 310 | Aguadilla, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
| 311 | Guayama, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
| 312 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
| 313 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 53 (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Air Traffic Controllers
SOC 53-2021
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
SOC 53-1041
Aircraft Service Attendants
SOC 53-6032
Airfield Operations Specialists
SOC 53-2022
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
SOC 53-2011
Showing 5 of 49 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($49,690 here) and reported employment (147,240 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $62,020/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Illinois leads at $75,050/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.