Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in New Mexico make a median of $47,660 a year, or about $22.92 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $51,214 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 34.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in New Mexico?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Refuse and recyclable material collectors pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in New Mexico
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $48K | +0% | 60 |
| Albuquerque | $46K | -4% | 350 |
| Las Cruces | $37K | -23% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track refuse and recyclable material collectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,092/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
New Mexico pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in New Mexico?
The median is $47,660 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,870, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $61,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,249/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 34.4% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $51,214 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.