Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Washington make a median of $74,620 a year, or about $35.88 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $73,150 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 35.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Washington?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for refuse and recyclable material collectors, local pay runs about 50% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in Washington
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $76K | +2% | 130 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $75K | +1% | 2,100 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $74K | -1% | 90 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $74K | -1% | 70 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $66K | -11% | 330 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $65K | -13% | 60 |
| Yakima | $61K | -18% | 80 |
| Walla Walla | $60K | -19% | 50 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $58K | -23% | 30 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,244/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 50% above the national median — $75K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
Washington pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Washington?
The median is $74,620 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,070, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $88,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,074/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 36.1% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median refuse and recyclable material collectors salary is worth about $73,150 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.