Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,650 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Los Angeles earn between $49,140 and $72,340.
- $37K10th
- $49K25th
- $62KMedian
- $72K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,710 | $5,142 | $29.67 |
| Median | $62,490 | $5,208 | $30.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,140 | $4,095 | $23.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,340 | $6,028 | $34.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Los Angeles earn 7% less than the California average ($66,300) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $61,710 | $62,490 | $36,810 | $75,650 | 4,210 |
| California | $66,300 | $64,890 | $45,970 | $90,370 | 13,930 |
| 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 Los Angeles
On the average salary of $61,710, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $49,869 a year, or $4,156 a month and $1,918 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $61,710 buys what about $54,338 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 15.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 15th of 22 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($88,030).
- San Jose$88,030
- San Francisco$76,010
- Santa Rosa$70,560
- San Diego$68,770
- Napa$67,510
- Santa Maria$67,140
- Sacramento$66,140
- Oxnard$65,980
- Vallejo$65,430
- Los Angeles$61,710
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in California
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 Los Angeles: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Los Angeles?
$29.67 an hour on average, and $30.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $49,869 a year ($4,156 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,710. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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