Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Pennsylvania make a median of $48,240 a year, or about $23.19 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $50,795 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 40.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Pennsylvania?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Refuse and recyclable material collectors pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 41.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in Pennsylvania
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $60K | +24% | 2,610 |
| Chambersburg | $59K | +23% | 110 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $59K | +22% | 140 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $52K | +7% | 480 |
| Pittsburgh | $50K | +3% | 1,220 |
| State College | $49K | +1% | 80 |
| York-Hanover | $47K | -2% | 150 |
| Erie | $46K | -4% | 170 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $46K | -5% | 340 |
| Lancaster | $46K | -6% | 300 |
| Reading | $39K | -20% | 210 |
| Altoona | $36K | -26% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 41.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
Pennsylvania pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $48,240 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $66,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,277/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 41.2% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $50,795 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.