Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,630 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in San Francisco earn between $62,030 and $84,720.
- $49K10th
- $62K25th
- $78KMedian
- $85K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,010 | $6,334 | $36.54 |
| Median | $77,570 | $6,464 | $37.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,030 | $5,169 | $29.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,720 | $7,060 | $40.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in San Francisco earn 15% more than the California average ($66,300) and 44% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +56% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $76,010 | $77,570 | $49,400 | $100,630 | 2,040 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $76,010, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $59,295 a year, or $4,941 a month and $2,281 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 Francisco a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $76,010 buys what about $65,745 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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 Francisco: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in San Francisco?
$36.54 an hour on average, and $37.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $59,295 a year ($4,941 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,010. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 44% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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