Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in the US
A refuse and recyclable material collectors earns a national median of $49,690 a year (mean $52,820) — BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked #558 of 825.
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collectors earn in the US?
A refuse and recyclable material collectors in the United States earns a median of $49,690 a year (mean $52,820), per BLS OEWS May 2025. That is 3% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. About 147,240 people work in this occupation (SOC 53-7081), ranked #558 of 825 by national median pay. Updated annually from BLS OEWS.
Median
$49,690
per year
Mean
$52,820
per year
Employment
147,240
US workers
National rank
#558
of 825 by median
What a refuse and recyclable material collectors earns in the US
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 national estimates, a refuse and recyclable material collectors (SOC 53-7081) earns a median annual wage of $49,690 and a mean (average) of $52,820. The median is the midpoint — half of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more and half earn less — and is 3% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. The mean is higher than the median when a minority of very high earners pull the average up.
Note: BLS top-codes any annual wage at or above $239,200/year, so occupations at that ceiling share the same figure.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average salary for a refuse and recyclable material collectors in the US?
- The BLS OEWS May 2025 national annual median wage for refuse and recyclable material collectors is $49,690, and the mean (average) is $52,820. The median is the midpoint — half of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more and half earn less.
- How does refuse and recyclable material collectors pay compare to the US average?
- At $49,690, a refuse and recyclable material collectors earns 3% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). The all-occupations US median is $50,980.
- How many refuse and recyclable material collectors are employed in the US?
- BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates about 147,240 refuse and recyclable material collectors employed nationally (SOC 53-7081), across all industries.
- Where does this refuse and recyclable material collectors salary data come from?
- From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 national release — cross-industry, all-ownership estimates, SOC code 53-7081. As US federal government work it is public domain. GeraJobs publishes the figures verbatim; suppressed cells are shown as "—", never estimated.
Compare nearby occupations
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks$50,020
- Agricultural Inspectors$49,940
- Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$49,910
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$49,880
- Logging Equipment Operators$49,740
- Dredge Operators$49,640
- Agricultural Technicians$49,630
- Patternmakers, Wood$49,630
- Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,610
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$49,590
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other$49,500
Find refuse and recyclable material collectors jobs with salary ranges
GeraJobs lists live US vacancies with employer-stated salary ranges — see which refuse and recyclable material collectors roles pay above the BLS benchmark.
Data source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) · May 2025 national estimates · SOC 53-7081 · Public domain (U.S. federal government work)
Published verbatim by GeraJobs. Last updated: 2026-06-27. ← All US salaries