SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Atlanta
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Atlanta, GA is $47,840 per year, close to the national median of $49,690 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Atlanta, GA is $47,840 per year, close to the national median of $49,690 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $35,750 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,810 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,340 to $59,380.
The area has 2,950 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.0 of every thousand jobs. Albany leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $50,010. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 472nd of 687 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,750 | −28.1% |
| 25th | $37,340 | −24.9% |
| Median (50th) | $47,840 | −3.7% |
| 75th | $59,380 | +19.5% |
| 90th | $60,810 | +22.4% |
| Mean | $48,300 | −2.8% |
Other metro areas in Georgia
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Atlanta run 3.7% below the national average, so the median of $47,840 goes as far as $49,678 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,678US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,840 a year, 3.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,750 to $60,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,950 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albany, at $50,010.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Atlanta, GA?
The median annual wage is $47,840, or $23.00 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 Atlanta, GA is 3.7% 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 Atlanta, GA earns more than $60,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,750 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 Albany, at $50,010 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,950 jobs in this occupation in Atlanta, GA. 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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