Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Fort Wayne
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,890 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Fort Wayne earn between $50,720 and $60,500.
- $29K10th
- $51K25th
- $59KMedian
- $60K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,180 | $4,432 | $25.57 |
| Median | $58,650 | $4,888 | $28.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,720 | $4,227 | $24.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,500 | $5,042 | $29.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Fort Wayne vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Fort Wayne earn 3% less than the Indiana average ($54,930) and about the same as the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $53,180 | $58,650 | $28,650 | $60,890 | 170 |
| Indiana | $54,930 | $58,900 | $36,000 | $64,680 | 3,180 |
| 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 Fort Wayne
On the average salary of $53,180, a single filer in Fort Wayne takes home about $42,515 a year, or $3,543 a month and $1,635 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). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Is Fort Wayne a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Wayne area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $53,180 buys what about $57,447 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Wayne ($47,700). A typical home costs $259,816, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Indiana cities
Fort Wayne ranks 5th of 6 Indiana metro areas for this job; Muncie pays the most ($56,740).
- Muncie$56,740
- South Bend$55,580
- Evansville$55,210
- Indianapolis$55,210
- Fort Wayne$53,180
- Terre Haute$51,540
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Indiana
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 Fort Wayne: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Fort Wayne?
$25.57 an hour on average, and $28.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Fort Wayne?
About $42,515 a year ($3,543 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,180. Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Fort Wayne than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Fort Wayne, IN (23060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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