Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,570 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Hickory earn between $25,910 and $48,060.
- $21K10th
- $26K25th
- $37KMedian
- $48K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,400 | $3,117 | $17.98 |
| Median | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,910 | $2,159 | $12.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,060 | $4,005 | $23.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Hickory earn 12% less than the North Carolina average ($42,590) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $37,400 | $36,960 | $21,180 | $48,570 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $42,590 | $44,670 | $25,140 | $58,570 | 7,250 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $37,400, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $31,247 a year, or $2,604 a month and $1,202 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $37,400 buys what about $42,267 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 14 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($49,180).
- Charlotte$49,180
- Durham$47,220
- Raleigh$46,410
- Fayetteville$45,660
- Greensboro$44,730
- Greenville$43,710
- Burlington$43,370
- Asheville$43,010
- Wilmington$43,000
- Hickory$37,400
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in North Carolina
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 Hickory: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Hickory?
$17.98 an hour on average, and $17.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Hickory?
About $31,247 a year ($2,604 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,400.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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