Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Arkansas make a median of $35,640 a year, or about $17.13 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $40,666 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 42% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Arkansas?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Arkansas runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $50K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 41.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for refuse and recyclable material collectorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $41K | +16% | 130 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $41K | +14% | 180 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $38K | +7% | 320 |
| Jonesboro | $35K | -1% | 50 |
| Hot Springs | $30K | -15% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 41.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,595/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is refuse and recyclable material collector a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $36K here vs. $50K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
Arkansas pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Arkansas?
The median is $35,640 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,590, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $51,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,454/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 41.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a refuse and recyclable material collectors salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median refuse and recyclable material collectors salary is worth about $40,666 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do refuse and recyclable material collectors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.