SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Arizona
Arizona nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $48,300 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $49,690.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $48,300 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $49,690. Half of workers earn between $36,570 and $50,540. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $33,330 and the ninetieth at $57,270.
The area has 140 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.50 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Phoenix leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 183rd of 318 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,330 | −32.9% |
| 25th | $36,570 | −26.4% |
| Median (50th) | $48,300 | −2.8% |
| 75th | $50,540 | +1.7% |
| 90th | $57,270 | +15.3% |
| Mean | $45,140 | −9.2% |
Other metro areas in Arizona
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | $47,460 | 1,780 | |
| 2 | Prescott Valley | $46,400 | 60 | |
| 3 | Lake Havasu City | $46,160 | 30 | |
| 4 | Tucson | $38,630 | 190 | |
| 5 | Sierra Vista | $37,320 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arizona sit close to the national average, so $48,300 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$48,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,964US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,300 a year, 2.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,330 to $57,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Phoenix, at $47,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Arizona, AZ?
The median annual wage is $48,300, or $23.22 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $49,690, so pay in Arizona, AZ is 2.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arizona, AZ earns more than $57,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,330 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Phoenix, at $47,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Arizona, AZ. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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