Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for refuse and recyclable material collectors is $49,690, or $23.89 per hour. About 147,240 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $75,050 in Illinois to $32,950 in South Dakota.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $75,050 | $36.08 | 4,910 | 0.85 |
| 2 | Washington | $74,620 | $35.88 | 3,750 | 1.12 |
| 3 | New York | $64,950 | $31.23 | 11,630 | 1.27 |
| 4 | California | $64,890 | $31.20 | 13,930 | 0.81 |
| 5 | Oregon | $63,210 | $30.39 | 2,500 | 1.34 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $62,570 | $30.08 | 2,500 | 0.89 |
| 7 | Nevada | $61,310 | $29.47 | 770 | 0.52 |
| 8 | Delaware | $61,290 | $29.47 | 600 | 1.31 |
| 9 | Colorado | $60,310 | $29.00 | 3,700 | 1.36 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $59,810 | $28.76 | 1,550 | 0.55 |
| 11 | Utah | $59,310 | $28.52 | 960 | 0.58 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $59,000 | $28.37 | 360 | 0.90 |
| 13 | Indiana | $58,900 | $28.32 | 3,180 | 1.05 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $56,270 | $27.05 | 770 | 1.30 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $55,970 | $26.91 | 470 | 1.00 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $55,490 | $26.68 | 540 | 0.82 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $54,630 | $26.27 | 4,330 | 1.07 |
| 18 | Vermont | $51,960 | $24.98 | 160 | 0.57 |
| 19 | Michigan | $51,030 | $24.53 | 4,020 | 0.96 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $50,310 | $24.19 | 1,010 | 0.29 |
| 21 | Missouri | $50,010 | $24.04 | 1,930 | 0.69 |
| 22 | Idaho | $49,880 | $23.98 | 730 | 0.89 |
| 23 | Iowa | $49,850 | $23.97 | 1,780 | 1.21 |
| 24 | Montana | $49,420 | $23.76 | 370 | 0.76 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $49,390 | $23.75 | 910 | 0.94 |
| 26 | Ohio | $49,330 | $23.72 | 4,710 | 0.90 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $48,820 | $23.47 | 280 | 1.04 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $48,240 | $23.19 | 6,220 | 1.08 |
| 29 | Florida | $47,820 | $22.99 | 11,650 | 1.24 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $47,660 | $22.92 | 1,070 | 1.30 |
| 31 | Georgia | $46,960 | $22.58 | 4,830 | 1.04 |
| 32 | Arizona | $46,910 | $22.55 | 2,380 | 0.78 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $46,580 | $22.40 | 340 | 0.52 |
| 34 | Virginia | $46,530 | $22.37 | 4,330 | 1.11 |
| 35 | Texas | $46,330 | $22.27 | 12,860 | 0.97 |
| 36 | Alabama | $46,240 | $22.23 | 2,790 | 1.39 |
| 37 | Alaska | $45,740 | $21.99 | 250 | 0.80 |
| 38 | Kansas | $45,510 | $21.88 | 910 | 0.67 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $44,670 | $21.48 | 7,250 | 1.55 |
| 40 | Maine | $43,360 | $20.85 | 770 | 1.27 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $43,270 | $20.80 | 2,550 | 0.82 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $43,100 | $20.72 | 1,580 | 0.83 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $43,060 | $20.70 | 2,030 | 1.25 |
| 44 | Maryland | $41,870 | $20.13 | 3,120 | 1.19 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $39,170 | $18.83 | 1,970 | 1.79 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $38,810 | $18.66 | 2,200 | 1.20 |
| 47 | Connecticut | $38,220 | $18.37 | 810 | 0.50 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $35,840 | $17.23 | 1,000 | 1.50 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $35,640 | $17.13 | 1,600 | 1.30 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $34,880 | $16.77 | 2,020 | 0.92 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $32,950 | $15.84 | 340 | 0.79 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make?
The median annual wage for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the United States is $49,690, or $23.89 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $33,590, and the top 10% earn $75,900.
How many refuse and recyclable material collectors are employed in the U.S.?
About 147,240 people work as refuse and recyclable material collectors nationwide.
Which state pays refuse and recyclable material collectors the most?
Illinois pays the most at a median of $75,050, followed by Washington ($74,620) and New York ($64,950).
Which state pays refuse and recyclable material collectors the least?
South Dakota has the lowest median at $32,950.
Where are refuse and recyclable material collectors jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Mississippi at 1.79×.