Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $71,380 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Boulder earn between $47,910 and $67,460.
- $38K10th
- $48K25th
- $67KMedian
- $67K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,170 | $5,014 | $28.93 |
| Median | $66,610 | $5,551 | $32.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,910 | $3,992 | $23.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,460 | $5,622 | $32.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary after taxes in Boulder
On the average salary of $60,170, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $48,588 a year, or $4,049 a month and $1,869 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $60,170 buys what about $57,195 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 2nd of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job; Denver pays the most ($60,720).
- Denver$60,720
- Boulder$60,170
- Colorado Springs$54,960
- Fort Collins$54,850
- Greeley$54,640
- Grand Junction$54,580
- Pueblo$50,030
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Colorado
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Boulder: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Boulder?
$28.93 an hour on average, and $32.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Boulder?
About $48,588 a year ($4,049 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,170. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($54,284).
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 Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.