Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,130 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in San Diego earn between $64,890 and $70,510.
- $51K10th
- $65K25th
- $69KMedian
- $71K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,770 | $5,731 | $33.06 |
| Median | $69,300 | $5,775 | $33.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,890 | $5,408 | $31.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,510 | $5,876 | $33.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in San Diego earn 4% more than the California average ($66,300) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $68,770 | $69,300 | $51,020 | $86,130 | 1,230 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $68,770, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $54,781 a year, or $4,565 a month and $2,107 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 San Diego a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $68,770 buys what about $61,464 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 13.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th 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
- San Luis Obispo$64,340
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 San Diego: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in San Diego?
$33.06 an hour on average, and $33.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in San Diego?
About $54,781 a year ($4,565 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,770. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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