Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Wisconsin make a median of $59,810 a year, or about $28.76 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $63,405 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Wisconsin?
About refuse and recyclable material collectors
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for refuse and recyclable material collectors, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by metro in Wisconsin
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $64K | +6% | 410 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $62K | +3% | 90 |
| Kenosha | $60K | +1% | 50 |
| Madison | $60K | +0% | 60 |
| Eau Claire | $59K | -2% | 70 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $50K | -16% | 40 |
| Green Bay | $48K | -20% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 30.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new refuse and recyclable material collectors typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,002/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $60K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for refuse and recyclable material collectors?
Wisconsin pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Wisconsin?
The median is $59,810 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,360, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $64,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,998/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 30.1% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $63,405 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.