Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,320 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Altoona earn between $32,830 and $43,960.
- $29K10th
- $33K25th
- $36KMedian
- $44K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,580 | $3,215 | $18.55 |
| Median | $35,930 | $2,994 | $17.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,830 | $2,736 | $15.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,960 | $3,663 | $21.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Altoona earn 22% less than the Pennsylvania average ($49,400) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -28% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $38,580 | $35,930 | $28,830 | $56,320 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,400 | $48,240 | $31,200 | $66,660 | 6,220 |
| 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 Altoona
On the average salary of $38,580, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $31,995 a year, or $2,666 a month and $1,231 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $38,580 buys what about $43,103 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 12th of 12 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Harrisburg pays the most ($56,110).
- Harrisburg$56,110
- Philadelphia$55,700
- Chambersburg$53,930
- Allentown$50,790
- State College$50,360
- Lancaster$48,240
- Pittsburgh$48,030
- York$47,420
- Scranton$46,270
- Altoona$38,580
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Pennsylvania
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Altoona: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Altoona?
$18.55 an hour on average, and $17.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Altoona?
About $31,995 a year ($2,666 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,580. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% 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 Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.