Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Tuscaloosa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,530 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Tuscaloosa earn between $40,480 and $59,970.
- $27K10th
- $40K25th
- $48KMedian
- $60K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,520 | $3,960 | $22.85 |
| Median | $47,920 | $3,993 | $23.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,480 | $3,373 | $19.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,970 | $4,998 | $28.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Tuscaloosa vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Tuscaloosa earn 5% more than the Alabama average ($45,450) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa | $47,520 | $47,920 | $27,380 | $60,530 | 150 |
| Alabama | $45,450 | $46,240 | $29,500 | $61,000 | 2,790 |
| United States | $52,820 | $49,690 | $33,590 | $75,900 | 147,240 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary after taxes in Tuscaloosa
On the average salary of $47,520, a single filer in Tuscaloosa takes home about $38,402 a year, or $3,200 a month and $1,477 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Tuscaloosa a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tuscaloosa area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $47,520 buys what about $54,171 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Tuscaloosa ($45,220). A typical home costs $223,201, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Alabama cities
Tuscaloosa ranks 7th of 11 Alabama metro areas for this job; Huntsville pays the most ($52,950).
- Huntsville$52,950
- Mobile$51,360
- Auburn$50,980
- Birmingham$49,070
- Daphne$48,020
- Anniston$47,720
- Tuscaloosa$47,520
- Decatur$44,080
- Dothan$41,720
- Florence$40,070
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Alabama
Highest-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($88,030).
- San Jose, CA$88,030
- Seattle, WA$76,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,010
- Chicago, IL$71,570
- Santa Rosa, CA$70,560
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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Tuscaloosa: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Tuscaloosa?
$22.85 an hour on average, and $23.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Tuscaloosa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Tuscaloosa?
About $38,402 a year ($3,200 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,520. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Tuscaloosa than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($52,820).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-7081; area Tuscaloosa, AL (46220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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