Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,820 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Traverse City earn between $39,930 and $61,440.
- $36K10th
- $40K25th
- $49KMedian
- $61K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,760 | $4,397 | $25.37 |
| Median | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,930 | $3,328 | $19.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,440 | $5,120 | $29.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Traverse City earn about the same as the Michigan average ($52,280) and about the same as the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $52,760 | $49,450 | $36,110 | $76,820 | 260 |
| Michigan | $52,280 | $51,030 | $34,150 | $76,360 | 4,020 |
| 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 Traverse City
On the average salary of $52,760, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $42,577 a year, or $3,548 a month and $1,638 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 (2025 rules).
Is Traverse City a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Traverse City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $52,760 buys what about $56,505 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 2nd of 9 Michigan metro areas for this job; Grand Rapids pays the most ($53,060).
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Michigan
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 Traverse City: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Traverse City?
$25.37 an hour on average, and $23.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $42,577 a year ($3,548 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,760.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Traverse City 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 Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 4.02, this job is 4.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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