Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,210 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Columbus earn between $34,320 and $43,880.
- $32K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $44K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,000 | $3,250 | $18.75 |
| Median | $37,090 | $3,091 | $17.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,320 | $2,860 | $16.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,880 | $3,657 | $21.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Columbus vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Columbus earn 15% less than the Georgia average ($46,150) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $39,000 | $37,090 | $31,770 | $47,210 | 50 |
| Georgia | $46,150 | $46,960 | $31,680 | $60,330 | 4,830 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $39,000, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $32,319 a year, or $2,693 a month and $1,243 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $32,319 | $2,693 |
| Working in AL | $31,932 | $2,661 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $39,000 buys what about $43,675 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 10th of 10 Georgia metro areas for this job; Gainesville pays the most ($50,830).
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Georgia
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 Columbus: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Columbus?
$18.75 an hour on average, and $17.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Columbus?
About $32,319 a year ($2,693 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,000.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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