Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,260 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Lexington earn between $35,980 and $48,140.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $48KMedian
- $48K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,360 | $3,697 | $21.33 |
| Median | $48,140 | $4,012 | $23.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,980 | $2,998 | $17.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,140 | $4,012 | $23.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Lexington earn 4% more than the Kentucky average ($42,710) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $44,360 | $48,140 | $31,770 | $58,260 | 270 |
| Kentucky | $42,710 | $43,100 | $29,610 | $56,170 | 1,580 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $44,360, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $35,168 a year, or $2,931 a month and $1,353 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $44,360 buys what about $47,756 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 3rd of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($51,200).
- Louisville$51,200
- Paducah$48,130
- Lexington$44,360
- Elizabethtown$43,670
- Bowling Green$41,080
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Kentucky
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 Lexington: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Lexington?
$21.33 an hour on average, and $23.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Lexington?
About $35,168 a year ($2,931 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,360. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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