Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 147K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$49,690
Median hourly
$24
Average annual
$52,820
Typical range
$33,590–$75,900
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is $49,690 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $24 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck..
Most earn between $33,590 and $75,900 a year. There are roughly 147K people employed as refuse and recyclable material collectors in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors.
- Hourly
- $23.89
- Daily
- $191
- Weekly
- $956
- Bi-weekly
- $1,911
- Monthly
- $4,141
- Annual
- $49,690
$49,690 a year is around the 50th percentile for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectorss. The median is $49,690.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Illinois$75,050
- 2Washington$74,620
- 3New York$64,950
- 4California$64,890
- 5Oregon$63,210
- 6Minnesota$62,570
- 7Nevada$61,310
- 8Delaware$61,290
- 9Colorado$60,310
- 10Wisconsin$59,810
- 11Utah$59,310
- 12North Dakota$59,000
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$87,430
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$77,570
- 3Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$77,470
- 4Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$76,340
- 5Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$75,440
- 6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,090
- 7Kennewick-Richland, WA$74,180
- 8Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$73,770
- 9Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$73,110
- 10Napa, CA$72,450
- 11San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$69,300
- 12Salinas, CA$69,210
Related job titles
Employers advertise Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$49,450
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$58,870
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$49,880
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
What a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors does
- Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
- Fill out defective equipment reports.
- Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
- Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed.
- 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.
- Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors make?
- The median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is $49,690 ($24 per hour). Pay ranges from about $33,590 at the 10th percentile to $75,900 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $52,820, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectorss the most?
- Illinois has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $75,050.
- Is Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 147K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors do?
- Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.; Fill out defective equipment reports.; Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies..