SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California is $64,890 per year, well above the national median of $49,690.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California is $64,890 per year, well above the national median of $49,690. The gap of 30.6% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $55,420 and $75,070. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $45,970 and the ninetieth at $90,370.
Employment stands at 13,930, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 4th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $87,430. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 424th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,970 | −7.5% |
| 25th | $55,420 | +11.5% |
| Median (50th) | $64,890 | +30.6% |
| 75th | $75,070 | +51.1% |
| 90th | $90,370 | +81.9% |
| Mean | $66,300 | +33.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $87,430 | 870 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $77,570 | 2,040 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $73,110 | 320 | |
| 4 | Napa | $72,450 | 90 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $69,300 | 1,230 | |
| 6 | Salinas | $69,210 | 90 | |
| 7 | Merced | $68,530 | 70 | |
| 8 | Santa Maria | $66,900 | 220 | |
| 9 | Fresno | $65,950 | 390 | |
| 10 | Sacramento | $65,950 | 910 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $64,890 buys what $58,618 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$64,890as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,618US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $64,890 a year, 30.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,970 to $90,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 13,930 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $87,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California?
The median annual wage is $64,890, or $31.20 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 California is 30.6% higher. 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 California earns more than $90,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,970 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 San Jose, at $87,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 13,930 jobs in this occupation in California. 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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