Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,560 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Rapid City earn between $28,510 and $34,680.
- $26K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,460 | $2,788 | $16.09 |
| Median | $29,960 | $2,497 | $14.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,510 | $2,376 | $13.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,680 | $2,890 | $16.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Rapid City earn 4% less than the South Dakota average ($34,810) and 37% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -40% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $33,460 | $29,960 | $25,700 | $49,560 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $34,810 | $32,950 | $27,380 | $47,700 | 340 |
| 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 Rapid City
On the average salary of $33,460, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $29,065 a year, or $2,422 a month and $1,118 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Rapid City a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rapid City area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.2), so the average $33,460 buys what about $37,528 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 11.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($34,430).
- Sioux Falls$34,430
- Rapid City$33,460
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in South Dakota
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 Rapid City: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Rapid City?
$16.09 an hour on average, and $14.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $29,065 a year ($2,422 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,460. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% 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 Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.