Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Cleveland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,490 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Cleveland earn between $23,830 and $56,490.
- $22K10th
- $24K25th
- $38KMedian
- $56K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,410 | $3,284 | $18.95 |
| Median | $37,540 | $3,128 | $18.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,830 | $1,986 | $11.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,490 | $4,708 | $27.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Cleveland vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Cleveland earn 11% less than the Tennessee average ($44,320) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $39,410 | $37,540 | $21,780 | $56,490 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $44,320 | $43,270 | $28,390 | $61,400 | 2,550 |
| 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 Cleveland
On the average salary of $39,410, a single filer in Cleveland takes home about $33,846 a year, or $2,820 a month and $1,302 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Cleveland a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cleveland area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.1), so the average $39,410 buys what about $44,743 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Cleveland ($40,230). A typical home costs $312,380, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Tennessee cities
Cleveland ranks 8th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($51,110).
- Nashville$51,110
- Clarksville$45,770
- Knoxville$45,620
- Jackson$45,010
- Memphis$44,720
- Kingsport$42,760
- Chattanooga$40,650
- Cleveland$39,410
- Morristown$38,700
- Johnson City$32,660
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Tennessee
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 Cleveland: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Cleveland?
$18.95 an hour on average, and $18.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Cleveland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Cleveland?
About $33,846 a year ($2,820 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,410. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Cleveland than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Cleveland, TN (17420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.1%.
- 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 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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