Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC make a median of $46,960 a year, or about $22.58 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $47,948 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month — about 53.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $71K | +48% | 3,890 |
| Nevada | $65K | +35% | 600 |
| New York | $65K | +34% | 11,240 |
| Illinois | $62K | +28% | 4,940 |
| California | $62K | +28% | 13,240 |
| Minnesota | $62K | +27% | 2,260 |
| Oregon | $61K | +26% | 2,080 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | +25% | 1,330 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +23% | 1,170 |
| Michigan | $59K | +23% | 3,680 |
| Indiana | $59K | +23% | 2,980 |
| Hawaii | $55K | +14% | 740 |
| District of Columbia | $54K | +11% | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $51K | +6% | 520 |
| Montana | $51K | +6% | 350 |
| Utah | $51K | +5% | 680 |
| New Jersey | $51K | +5% | 4,710 |
| North Dakota | $50K | +4% | 300 |
| Vermont | $49K | +2% | 160 |
| Iowa | $49K | +1% | 2,050 |
| Ohio | $49K | +1% | 5,000 |
| Idaho | $48K | -0% | 830 |
| Wyoming | $48K | -1% | 310 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -2% | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $47K | -3% | 380 |
| Florida | $47K | -3% | 9,690 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -3% | 1,210 |
| Missouri | $47K | -3% | 2,180 |
| Virginia | $46K | -5% | 3,720 |
| Connecticut | $46K | -5% | 930 |
| Texas | $46K | -5% | 10,720 |
| Maine | $43K | -11% | 620 |
| Georgia | $43K | -11% | 4,790 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | -12% | 390 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | -12% | 5,800 |
| Kansas | $43K | -12% | 980 |
| North Carolina | $41K | -16% | 6,460 |
| Maryland | $40K | -17% | 2,710 |
| Alabama | $40K | -18% | 2,000 |
| Arizona | $40K | -18% | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $39K | -20% | 2,630 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -23% | 2,600 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -24% | 2,060 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -24% | 2,200 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -24% | 2,030 |
| Alaska | $37K | -24% | 330 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -24% | 1,530 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -24% | 860 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -25% | 1,790 |
| South Dakota | $33K | -32% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track refuse and recyclable material collectors salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $46,960 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,520, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $59,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,132/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 54.7% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $47,948 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.