Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Illinois make a median of $75,050 a year, or about $36.08 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $79,968 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Illinois?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for refuse and recyclable material collectors, local pay runs about 51% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in Illinois
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $77K | +3% | 3,330 |
| Springfield | $61K | -19% | 80 |
| Peoria | $59K | -21% | 60 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $41K | -46% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,327/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 51% above the national median — $75K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
Illinois pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +51%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Illinois?
The median is $75,050 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,790, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $88,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,789/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 29.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a refuse and recyclable material collectors salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $79,968 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.