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
- $75,900
- Top 10% earn
- +0.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 147,240
- US workers
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 US workers. Illinois pays the most ($75,050), since pay varies by state and metro area.
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 2033.
- $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.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (SOC 53-7081) pays a national median of $49,690 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $33,590 at the 10th percentile to $75,900 at the 90th, with a mean of $52,820 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 147,240 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 441 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 16,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, 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 top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $87,430 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 147,240 jobs Median $49,690/yr
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.
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).
Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors sits on the slower-growing side at +0.9% growth and $49,690 median pay.
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)
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 → C
Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
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
Operations Monitoring 3.0
Operation and Control 3.0
Active Listening 2.9
Speaking 2.9
Critical Thinking 2.8
Equipment Maintenance 2.8
Reading Comprehension 2.6
Coordination 2.6
Writing 2.5
Monitoring 2.5
Knowledge Areas
Mechanical 3.2
English Language 2.8
Transportation 2.6
Customer and Personal Service 2.5
Public Safety and Security 2.5
Administration and Management 2.1
Telecommunications 2.0
Computers and Electronics 2.0
Mathematics 2.0
Education and Training 2.0
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
10th Percentile
$33,590
25th Percentile
$39,080
Median
$49,690
75th Percentile
$62,020
90th Percentile
$75,900
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 441 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 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $61,600 | +24% above national |
| 38 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $61,570 | +24% above national |
| 39 | Mankato, MN | $61,440 | +24% above national |
| 40 | Yakima, WA | $61,370 | +24% above national |
| 41 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $61,320 | +23% above national |
| 42 | Chico, CA | $61,250 | +23% above national |
| 43 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,190 | +23% above national |
| 44 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $61,140 | +23% above national |
| 45 | Duluth, MN-WI | $61,020 | +23% above national |
| 46 | Muncie, IN | $60,940 | +23% above national |
| 47 | Fargo, ND-MN | $60,840 | +22% above national |
| 48 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $60,790 | +22% above national |
| 49 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $60,760 | +22% above national |
| 50 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,750 | +22% above national |
| 51 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $60,740 | +22% above national |
| 52 | Bismarck, ND | $60,640 | +22% above national |
| 53 | Springfield, IL | $60,570 | +22% above national |
| 54 | Kenosha, WI | $60,400 | +22% above national |
| 55 | Walla Walla, WA | $60,330 | +21% above national |
| 56 | Modesto, CA | $60,110 | +21% above national |
| 57 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $60,080 | +21% above national |
| 58 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $60,000 | +21% above national |
| 59 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,000 | +21% above national |
| 60 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $59,960 | +21% above national |
| 61 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $59,830 | +20% above national |
| 62 | Madison, WI | $59,810 | +20% above national |
| 63 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $59,760 | +20% above national |
| 64 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,730 | +20% above national |
| 65 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $59,710 | +20% above national |
| 66 | Bozeman, MT | $59,660 | +20% above national |
| 67 | Saginaw, MI | $59,620 | +20% above national |
| 68 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,480 | +20% above national |
| 69 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $59,420 | +20% above national |
| 70 | Chambersburg, PA | $59,380 | +20% above national |
| 71 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,220 | +19% above national |
| 72 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $59,140 | +19% above national |
| 73 | Peoria, IL | $59,070 | +19% above national |
| 74 | Ogden, UT | $59,060 | +19% above national |
| 75 | St. Cloud, MN | $58,980 | +19% above national |
| 76 | Eau Claire, WI | $58,880 | +18% above national |
| 77 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $58,810 | +18% above national |
| 78 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $58,750 | +18% above national |
| 79 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $58,680 | +18% above national |
| 80 | Fort Wayne, IN | $58,650 | +18% above national |
| 81 | Colorado Springs, CO | $58,530 | +18% above national |
| 82 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $58,320 | +17% above national |
| 83 | Evansville, IN | $57,750 | +16% above national |
| 84 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $57,650 | +16% above national |
| 85 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,580 | +16% above national |
| 86 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $57,560 | +16% above national |
| 87 | Columbus, OH | $57,510 | +16% above national |
| 88 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,490 | +16% above national |
| 89 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $57,330 | +15% above national |
| 90 | Terre Haute, IN | $57,010 | +15% above national |
| 91 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $56,990 | +15% above national |
| 92 | Iowa City, IA | $56,810 | +14% above national |
| 93 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $56,730 | +14% above national |
| 94 | Midland, TX | $56,660 | +14% above national |
| 95 | Minot, ND | $56,340 | +13% above national |
| 96 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $56,280 | +13% above national |
| 97 | Greeley, CO | $56,160 | +13% above national |
| 98 | Rochester, NY | $56,080 | +13% above national |
| 99 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $56,020 | +13% above national |
| 100 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $55,970 | +13% above national |
| 101 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $55,810 | +12% above national |
| 102 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $55,640 | +12% above national |
| 103 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $55,620 | +12% above national |
| 104 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $55,130 | +11% above national |
| 105 | Cleveland, OH | $55,090 | +11% above national |
| 106 | Idaho Falls, ID | $55,080 | +11% above national |
| 107 | Grand Junction, CO | $54,930 | +11% above national |
| 108 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $54,900 | +10% above national |
| 109 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $53,510 | +8% above national |
| 110 | Helena, MT | $52,800 | +6% above national |
| 111 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $52,780 | +6% above national |
| 112 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $52,680 | +6% above national |
| 113 | Springfield, MA | $52,450 | +6% above national |
| 114 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $52,340 | +5% above national |
| 115 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $52,130 | +5% above national |
| 116 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $52,080 | +5% above national |
| 117 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $52,060 | +5% above national |
| 118 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $51,960 | +5% above national |
| 119 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $51,610 | +4% above national |
| 120 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51,610 | +4% above national |
| 121 | Omaha, NE-IA | $51,530 | +4% above national |
| 122 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $51,490 | +4% above national |
| 123 | Ithaca, NY | $51,320 | +3% above national |
| 124 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $51,300 | +3% above national |
| 125 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $51,270 | +3% above national |
| 126 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $51,110 | +3% above national |
| 127 | Huntsville, AL | $51,090 | +3% above national |
| 128 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,080 | +3% above national |
| 129 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $51,080 | +3% above national |
| 130 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $51,070 | +3% above national |
| 131 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $51,070 | +3% above national |
| 132 | Knoxville, TN | $51,030 | +3% above national |
| 133 | Barnstable Town, MA | $50,990 | +3% above national |
| 134 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,980 | +3% above national |
| 135 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,820 | +2% above national |
| 136 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $50,770 | +2% above national |
| 137 | Boise City, ID | $50,740 | +2% above national |
| 138 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,540 | +2% above national |
| 139 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $50,540 | +2% above national |
| 140 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $50,510 | +2% above national |
| 141 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $50,210 | +1% above national |
| 142 | Mansfield, OH | $50,210 | +1% above national |
| 143 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $50,070 | +1% above national |
| 144 | Jackson, TN | $50,050 | +1% above national |
| 145 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $50,040 | +1% above national |
| 146 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $50,040 | +1% above national |
| 147 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $50,030 | +1% above national |
| 148 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $50,030 | +1% above national |
| 149 | Albany, GA | $50,010 | +1% above national |
| 150 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $49,940 | +1% above national |
| 151 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $49,920 | same as national |
| 152 | Syracuse, NY | $49,810 | same as national |
| 153 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $49,770 | same as national |
| 154 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,730 | same as national |
| 155 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $49,670 | same as national |
| 156 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,670 | same as national |
| 157 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $49,620 | same as national |
| 158 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $49,580 | same as national |
| 159 | Gainesville, GA | $49,580 | same as national |
| 160 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $49,560 | same as national |
| 161 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $49,470 | same as national |
| 162 | Traverse City, MI | $49,450 | same as national |
| 163 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $49,440 | 1% below national |
| 164 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $49,420 | 1% below national |
| 165 | Joplin, MO-KS | $49,250 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Richmond, VA | $49,150 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,100 | 1% below national |
| 168 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $49,030 | 1% below national |
| 169 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $49,020 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $49,010 | 1% below national |
| 171 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $48,970 | 1% below national |
| 172 | Corpus Christi, TX | $48,940 | 2% below national |
| 173 | State College, PA | $48,940 | 2% below national |
| 174 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $48,920 | 2% below national |
| 175 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $48,880 | 2% below national |
| 176 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $48,870 | 2% below national |
| 177 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $48,850 | 2% below national |
| 178 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $48,820 | 2% below national |
| 179 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $48,790 | 2% below national |
| 180 | Savannah, GA | $48,770 | 2% below national |
| 181 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $48,760 | 2% below national |
| 182 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $48,650 | 2% below national |
| 183 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,640 | 2% below national |
| 184 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,640 | 2% below national |
| 185 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $48,590 | 2% below national |
| 186 | Pocatello, ID | $48,580 | 2% below national |
| 187 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,570 | 2% below national |
| 188 | Mobile, AL | $48,460 | 2% below national |
| 189 | Paducah, KY-IL | $48,460 | 2% below national |
| 190 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,460 | 2% below national |
| 191 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,430 | 3% below national |
| 192 | Dalton, GA | $48,420 | 3% below national |
| 193 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $48,300 | 3% below national |
| 194 | Flint, MI | $48,270 | 3% below national |
| 195 | Lincoln, NE | $48,190 | 3% below national |
| 196 | Monroe, MI | $48,160 | 3% below national |
| 197 | Sumter, SC | $48,160 | 3% below national |
| 198 | Jacksonville, FL | $48,150 | 3% below national |
| 199 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $48,150 | 3% below national |
| 200 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $48,140 | 3% below national |
| 201 | Wichita, KS | $48,120 | 3% below national |
| 202 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $48,110 | 3% below national |
| 203 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $48,110 | 3% below national |
| 204 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $48,100 | 3% below national |
| 205 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $48,030 | 3% below national |
| 206 | Billings, MT | $48,010 | 3% below national |
| 207 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,010 | 3% below national |
| 208 | Green Bay, WI | $48,000 | 3% below national |
| 209 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $47,980 | 3% below national |
| 210 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,960 | 3% below national |
| 211 | Birmingham, AL | $47,930 | 4% below national |
| 212 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $47,920 | 4% below national |
| 213 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $47,890 | 4% below national |
| 214 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $47,840 | 4% below national |
| 215 | Akron, OH | $47,830 | 4% below national |
| 216 | Greenville, NC | $47,830 | 4% below national |
| 217 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $47,830 | 4% below national |
| 218 | Ames, IA | $47,810 | 4% below national |
| 219 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $47,700 | 4% below national |
| 220 | Elizabethtown, KY | $47,700 | 4% below national |
| 221 | Utica-Rome, NY | $47,700 | 4% below national |
| 222 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $47,690 | 4% below national |
| 223 | Lynchburg, VA | $47,670 | 4% below national |
| 224 | Santa Fe, NM | $47,660 | 4% below national |
| 225 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,620 | 4% below national |
| 226 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $47,550 | 4% below national |
| 227 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,500 | 4% below national |
| 228 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $47,490 | 4% below national |
| 229 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $47,470 | 4% below national |
| 230 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $47,460 | 4% below national |
| 231 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $47,320 | 5% below national |
| 232 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $47,230 | 5% below national |
| 233 | Fayetteville, NC | $47,220 | 5% below national |
| 234 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,170 | 5% below national |
| 235 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $47,160 | 5% below national |
| 236 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $47,150 | 5% below national |
| 237 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $47,040 | 5% below national |
| 238 | York-Hanover, PA | $47,040 | 5% below national |
| 239 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $46,940 | 6% below national |
| 240 | Tallahassee, FL | $46,930 | 6% below national |
| 241 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $46,910 | 6% below national |
| 242 | New Haven, CT | $46,900 | 6% below national |
| 243 | Springfield, MO | $46,790 | 6% below national |
| 244 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $46,770 | 6% below national |
| 245 | Pueblo, CO | $46,750 | 6% below national |
| 246 | Worcester, MA | $46,740 | 6% below national |
| 247 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $46,640 | 6% below national |
| 248 | Valdosta, GA | $46,640 | 6% below national |
| 249 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $46,560 | 6% below national |
| 250 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,530 | 6% below national |
| 251 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,430 | 7% below national |
| 252 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $46,400 | 7% below national |
| 253 | Erie, PA | $46,380 | 7% below national |
| 254 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $46,350 | 7% below national |
| 255 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $46,340 | 7% below national |
| 256 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,320 | 7% below national |
| 257 | Ann Arbor, MI | $46,310 | 7% below national |
| 258 | Redding, CA | $46,290 | 7% below national |
| 259 | Punta Gorda, FL | $46,280 | 7% below national |
| 260 | Winchester, VA-WV | $46,280 | 7% below national |
| 261 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $46,210 | 7% below national |
| 262 | Odessa, TX | $46,180 | 7% below national |
| 263 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $46,160 | 7% below national |
| 264 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $46,160 | 7% below national |
| 265 | Visalia, CA | $46,090 | 7% below national |
| 266 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $46,040 | 7% below national |
| 267 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,960 | 8% below national |
| 268 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $45,960 | 8% below national |
| 269 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $45,940 | 8% below national |
| 270 | Harrisonburg, VA | $45,850 | 8% below national |
| 271 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $45,820 | 8% below national |
| 272 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,790 | 8% below national |
| 273 | Ocala, FL | $45,670 | 8% below national |
| 274 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $45,670 | 8% below national |
| 275 | Lima, OH | $45,600 | 8% below national |
| 276 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $45,590 | 8% below national |
| 277 | Lancaster, PA | $45,540 | 8% below national |
| 278 | Asheville, NC | $45,520 | 8% below national |
| 279 | Toledo, OH | $45,500 | 8% below national |
| 280 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $45,360 | 9% below national |
| 281 | Wilmington, NC | $45,270 | 9% below national |
| 282 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $45,080 | 9% below national |
| 283 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $44,890 | 10% below national |
| 284 | Gainesville, FL | $44,880 | 10% below national |
| 285 | Sebring, FL | $44,800 | 10% below national |
| 286 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $44,800 | 10% below national |
| 287 | Winston-Salem, NC | $44,670 | 10% below national |
| 288 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $44,610 | 10% below national |
| 289 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,470 | 11% below national |
| 290 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,450 | 11% below national |
| 291 | Tyler, TX | $44,380 | 11% below national |
| 292 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $44,350 | 11% below national |
| 293 | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,300 | 11% below national |
| 294 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,130 | 11% below national |
| 295 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $44,120 | 11% below national |
| 296 | Decatur, AL | $44,020 | 11% below national |
| 297 | Amarillo, TX | $43,840 | 12% below national |
| 298 | Topeka, KS | $43,580 | 12% below national |
| 299 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $43,550 | 12% below national |
| 300 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $43,510 | 12% below national |
| 301 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $43,400 | 13% below national |
| 302 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $43,250 | 13% below national |
| 303 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $43,160 | 13% below national |
| 304 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $42,890 | 14% below national |
| 305 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $42,890 | 14% below national |
| 306 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $42,890 | 14% below national |
| 307 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $42,120 | 15% below national |
| 308 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $41,780 | 16% below national |
| 309 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $41,420 | 17% below national |
| 310 | Burlington, NC | $41,030 | 17% below national |
| 311 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $41,020 | 17% below national |
| 312 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $40,830 | 18% below national |
| 313 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $40,650 | 18% below national |
| 314 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $40,540 | 18% below national |
| 315 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $40,480 | 19% below national |
| 316 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $40,370 | 19% below national |
| 317 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $40,370 | 19% below national |
| 318 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $39,950 | 20% below national |
| 319 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $39,930 | 20% below national |
| 320 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $39,930 | 20% below national |
| 321 | Jackson, MS | $39,900 | 20% below national |
| 322 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $39,900 | 20% below national |
| 323 | Victoria, TX | $39,860 | 20% below national |
| 324 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $39,670 | 20% below national |
| 325 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,400 | 21% below national |
| 326 | Dothan, AL | $39,350 | 21% below national |
| 327 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $39,070 | 21% below national |
| 328 | Roanoke, VA | $39,070 | 21% below national |
| 329 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $39,040 | 21% below national |
| 330 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,010 | 21% below national |
| 331 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $38,970 | 22% below national |
| 332 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,930 | 22% below national |
| 333 | Reading, PA | $38,760 | 22% below national |
| 334 | Tucson, AZ | $38,630 | 22% below national |
| 335 | Bangor, ME | $38,570 | 22% below national |
| 336 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $38,540 | 22% below national |
| 337 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $38,470 | 23% below national |
| 338 | Lake Charles, LA | $38,330 | 23% below national |
| 339 | Tulsa, OK | $38,330 | 23% below national |
| 340 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $38,250 | 23% below national |
| 341 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $38,200 | 23% below national |
| 342 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $38,170 | 23% below national |
| 343 | Morristown, TN | $38,020 | 23% below national |
| 344 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $37,980 | 24% below national |
| 345 | Hammond, LA | $37,920 | 24% below national |
| 346 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $37,920 | 24% below national |
| 347 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $37,890 | 24% below national |
| 348 | Charleston, WV | $37,850 | 24% below national |
| 349 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,680 | 24% below national |
| 350 | Montgomery, AL | $37,630 | 24% below national |
| 351 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,570 | 24% below national |
| 352 | Charlottesville, VA | $37,540 | 24% below national |
| 353 | Cleveland, TN | $37,540 | 24% below national |
| 354 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $37,540 | 24% below national |
| 355 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $37,530 | 24% below national |
| 356 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $37,510 | 25% below national |
| 357 | Lawton, OK | $37,490 | 25% below national |
| 358 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $37,460 | 25% below national |
| 359 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $37,320 | 25% below national |
| 360 | Monroe, LA | $37,190 | 25% below national |
| 361 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,190 | 25% below national |
| 362 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $37,160 | 25% below national |
| 363 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,140 | 25% below national |
| 364 | Columbus, GA-AL | $37,090 | 25% below national |
| 365 | Hattiesburg, MS | $37,070 | 25% below national |
| 366 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,050 | 25% below national |
| 367 | Jacksonville, NC | $37,020 | 25% below national |
| 368 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $36,990 | 26% below national |
| 369 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,960 | 26% below national |
| 370 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,960 | 26% below national |
| 371 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36,910 | 26% below national |
| 372 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,890 | 26% below national |
| 373 | Spartanburg, SC | $36,880 | 26% below national |
| 374 | El Paso, TX | $36,850 | 26% below national |
| 375 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $36,850 | 26% below national |
| 376 | Bowling Green, KY | $36,810 | 26% below national |
| 377 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,670 | 26% below national |
| 378 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $36,650 | 26% below national |
| 379 | Las Cruces, NM | $36,640 | 26% below national |
| 380 | Lafayette, LA | $36,470 | 27% below national |
| 381 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $36,420 | 27% below national |
| 382 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $36,380 | 27% below national |
| 383 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $36,280 | 27% below national |
| 384 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,260 | 27% below national |
| 385 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,250 | 27% below national |
| 386 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,240 | 27% below national |
| 387 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | 27% below national |
| 388 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,160 | 27% below national |
| 389 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,130 | 27% below national |
| 390 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,090 | 27% below national |
| 391 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,060 | 27% below national |
| 392 | Anchorage, AK | $36,030 | 27% below national |
| 393 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,960 | 28% below national |
| 394 | Altoona, PA | $35,930 | 28% below national |
| 395 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,930 | 28% below national |
| 396 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,910 | 28% below national |
| 397 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,840 | 28% below national |
| 398 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $35,830 | 28% below national |
| 399 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $35,790 | 28% below national |
| 400 | Beckley, WV | $35,710 | 28% below national |
| 401 | Eagle Pass, TX | $35,710 | 28% below national |
| 402 | Alexandria, LA | $35,500 | 29% below national |
| 403 | Jonesboro, AR | $35,330 | 29% below national |
| 404 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $35,300 | 29% below national |
| 405 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,190 | 29% below national |
| 406 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,100 | 29% below national |
| 407 | Springfield, OH | $35,080 | 29% below national |
| 408 | Columbia, SC | $34,800 | 30% below national |
| 409 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $34,530 | 31% below national |
| 410 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,400 | 31% below national |
| 411 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,300 | 31% below national |
| 412 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $34,050 | 31% below national |
| 413 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $33,720 | 32% below national |
| 414 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,820 | 34% below national |
| 415 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $32,820 | 34% below national |
| 416 | Florence, SC | $32,540 | 35% below national |
| 417 | Lubbock, TX | $32,510 | 35% below national |
| 418 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $32,230 | 35% below national |
| 419 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $31,950 | 36% below national |
| 420 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $31,390 | 37% below national |
| 421 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $31,310 | 37% below national |
| 422 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $31,280 | 37% below national |
| 423 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $30,940 | 38% below national |
| 424 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $30,750 | 38% below national |
| 425 | Hot Springs, AR | $30,460 | 39% below national |
| 426 | Rapid City, SD | $29,960 | 40% below national |
| 427 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,140 | 41% below national |
| 428 | Johnson City, TN | $28,880 | 42% below national |
| 429 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,650 | 42% below national |
| 430 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $28,530 | 43% below national |
| 431 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,220 | 43% below national |
| 432 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,540 | 45% below national |
| 433 | Rocky Mount, NC | $26,580 | 47% below national |
| 434 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $24,220 | 51% below national |
| 435 | Arecibo, PR | $21,970 | 56% below national |
| 436 | Ponce, PR | $21,910 | 56% below national |
| 437 | Aguadilla, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
| 438 | Guayama, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
| 439 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
| 440 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $21,840 | 56% below national |
| 441 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $21,840 | 56% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors make? ▼
The median annual salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is $49,690 ($23.89/hour). The salary range spans from $33,590 at the 10th percentile to $75,900 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors the most? ▼
Illinois pays the highest median salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors at $75,050/year, which is +51% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors? ▼
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors has a safety grade of C (Moderate Risk) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 33 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 6.5 per 100 workers.
Is Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors a good career? ▼
Employment for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is projected to grow 0.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 16,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay vary by state? ▼
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Illinois at $75,050/year, while Arkansas pays the least at $35,640/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $87,430/year. BLS reports wage data for 441 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $62,020/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. 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.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
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.