Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,120 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Wilmington earn between $36,790 and $48,480.
- $28K10th
- $37K25th
- $45KMedian
- $48K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,000 | $3,583 | $20.67 |
| Median | $45,270 | $3,772 | $21.76 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,790 | $3,066 | $17.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,480 | $4,040 | $23.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($42,590) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $43,000 | $45,270 | $27,870 | $54,120 | 260 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $43,000, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $35,524 a year, or $2,960 a month and $1,366 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $43,000 buys what about $44,596 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 9th 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
- Winston-Salem$41,770
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Wilmington?
$20.67 an hour on average, and $21.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $35,524 a year ($2,960 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,000.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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