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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary in U.S.

The salary statistics of refuse and recyclable material collectors are shown in Table 1. In the next few tables we compare the average salaries of refuse and recyclable material collectors within different industry sectors and in the 50 states of the United States. The refuse and recyclable material collectors annual salary statistics are from the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary in U.S. (2022 survey)

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$28,190
25th Percentile Wage
$34,040
50th Percentile Wage
$43,540
75th Percentile Wage
$53,800
90th Percentile Wage
$64,390

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) refuse and recyclable material collectors is $64,390. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $43,540. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $28,190. Note that in the United States, the annual salary of the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is almost 128% higher than that of the bottom 10 percent.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of refuse and recyclable material collectors from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$43,540
11.58% 24.37%
2021
$38,500
-1.56% -
2020
$39,100
3.22% -
2019
$37,840
1.53% -
2018
$37,260
2.95% -
2017
$36,160
2.46% -
2016
$35,270
4.17% -
2015
$33,800
0.41% -
2014
$33,660
2.79% -
2013
$32,720
-0.64% -
2012
$32,930
- -

Table 2. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary by Industry Sector (2022 survey)

The average salaries of refuse and recyclable material collectors in 16 major industry sectors are shown in Table 2. We note that the salaries vary considerably within different industry sectors. The highest paying industry sector for refuse and recyclable material collectors occupations is the professional, scientific, and technical services sector with an annual salary $71,420. The lowest paying sector is the other services (except federal, state, and local government) sector (annual salary $24,070).

Industry Sector Median Annual Salary
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$71,420
Manufacturing
$52,600
Transportation and Warehousing
$52,430
Management of Companies and Enterprises
$50,210
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
$44,920
Mining
$42,290
Utilities
$41,410
Federal, State, and Local Government
$40,440
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
$37,620
Construction
$36,770
Educational Services
$36,010
Accommodation and Food Services
$34,810
Wholesale Trade
$34,650
Health Care and Social Assistance
$32,110
Retail Trade
$24,830
Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)
$24,070

Table 3. Median Annual Wage of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors by States (2022 survey)

From the above tables we note that not only refuse and recyclable material collectors salaries vary considerably based on one's education and experience, and the industry sectors, they also change considerably from state to state. In the following table we compare the median salary of refuse and recyclable material collectors in all 50 states of the United States. We note that the median annual salaries range from $19,540 to $63,960. The highest paying state for refuse and recyclable material collectors is New York with a median annual salary of $63,960. The lowest paying state is Puerto Rico with a median annual salary of $19,540. For more salary information of refuse and recyclable material collectors profession in a specific state, use the links in the table.

State Name Median Annual Salary
New York
$63,960
Washington
$60,600
Illinois
$59,040
California
$57,660
Oregon
$57,020
Hawaii
$53,960
District of Columbia
$53,680
Massachusetts
$52,890
Wisconsin
$51,550
Colorado
$50,570
New Jersey
$49,900
Connecticut
$49,620
Alaska
$48,860
Montana
$48,660
Utah
$48,380
North Dakota
$48,320
Michigan
$47,990
Rhode Island
$47,730
Minnesota
$47,480
Iowa
$45,540
Idaho
$44,880
Ohio
$43,760
New Mexico
$43,110
Indiana
$41,270
Florida
$40,780
Vermont
$39,840
Wyoming
$39,410
Maryland
$39,360
Texas
$38,900
Missouri
$38,880
Oklahoma
$38,690
Kansas
$38,680
Delaware
$38,250
Georgia
$37,770
North Carolina
$37,530
Nebraska
$37,410
Maine
$36,550
South Carolina
$36,240
Kentucky
$36,000
Mississippi
$35,920
Pennsylvania
$35,740
New Hampshire
$35,430
Nevada
$35,350
Louisiana
$34,230
Virginia
$32,640
Tennessee
$31,200
Alabama
$31,190
Arizona
$31,050
Arkansas
$30,440
West Virginia
$30,320
South Dakota
$29,230
Guam
$22,500
Puerto Rico
$19,540