Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Montana make a median of $49,420 a year, or about $23.76 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $50,948 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 33.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Montana?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in Montana
Refuse and recyclable material collectors pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in Montana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $60K | +21% | 70 |
| Helena | $53K | +7% | 40 |
| Billings | $48K | -3% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track refuse and recyclable material collectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 33.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,225/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
Montana pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Montana?
The median is $49,420 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,080, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $60,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,328/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 33.9% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $50,948 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.