Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,410 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Nashville earn between $41,870 and $61,680.
- $30K10th
- $42K25th
- $58KMedian
- $62K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,110 | $4,259 | $24.57 |
| Median | $57,650 | $4,804 | $27.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,870 | $3,489 | $20.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,680 | $5,140 | $29.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Nashville earn 15% more than the Tennessee average ($44,320) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $51,110 | $57,650 | $30,390 | $64,410 | 520 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $51,110, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $43,247 a year, or $3,604 a month and $1,663 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $51,110 buys what about $53,053 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Nashville: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Nashville?
$24.57 an hour on average, and $27.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Nashville?
About $43,247 a year ($3,604 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,110. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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 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).
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