SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Central Oregon
Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Central Oregon, OR comes to $59,960 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 20.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Central Oregon, OR comes to $59,960 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 20.7%. Pay ranges from under $52,370 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,310 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,960 to $61,550.
Employment stands at 130, or 2.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Portland records the highest median at $65,920. Of the 263 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 119th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,370 | +5.4% |
| 25th | $59,960 | +20.7% |
| Median (50th) | $59,960 | +20.7% |
| 75th | $61,550 | +23.9% |
| 90th | $62,310 | +25.4% |
| Mean | $59,780 | +20.3% |
Other metro areas in Oregon
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Central Oregon run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $59,960 buys what $57,988 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 16.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,960as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,988US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,960 a year, 20.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $52,370 to $62,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $65,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Central Oregon, OR?
The median annual wage is $59,960, or $28.83 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 Central Oregon, OR is 20.7% 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 Central Oregon, OR earns more than $62,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $52,370 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 Portland, at $65,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Central Oregon, OR. 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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