Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $71,250 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Philadelphia earn between $43,150 and $63,960.
- $36K10th
- $43K25th
- $60KMedian
- $64K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,700 | $4,642 | $26.78 |
| Median | $59,730 | $4,978 | $28.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,150 | $3,596 | $20.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,960 | $5,330 | $30.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Philadelphia earn 13% more than the Pennsylvania average ($49,400) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $55,700 | $59,730 | $36,040 | $71,250 | 2,610 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $55,700, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $45,225 a year, or $3,769 a month and $1,739 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $45,405 | $3,784 |
| Working in PA | $45,225 | $3,769 |
| Working in MD | $44,501 | $3,708 |
| Working in DE | $44,410 | $3,701 |
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 Philadelphia a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $55,700 buys what about $54,313 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd 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
- Erie$45,840
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
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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Philadelphia?
$26.78 an hour on average, and $28.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $45,225 a year ($3,769 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,700. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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