Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Maine make a median of $43,360 a year, or about $20.85 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $44,381 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 42.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Maine?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Maine runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $50K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,281/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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, Maine
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in Maine
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $48K | +12% | 270 |
| Lewiston-Auburn | $40K | -7% | 80 |
| Bangor | $39K | -11% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track refuse and recyclable material collectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,075/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Maine?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $43K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
Maine pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Maine?
The median is $43,360 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,590, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $61,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,931/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 43.7% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $44,381 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.