SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Colorado
Colorado · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Colorado is $60,310 per year, 21.4% 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 Colorado is $60,310 per year, 21.4% above the national median of $49,690. Half of workers earn between $46,770 and $64,410. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $39,580 and the ninetieth at $75,330.
The area has 3,700 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.3 of every thousand jobs. Colorado ranks number 9th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Boulder records the highest median at $66,610. Of the 738 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 413th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,580 | −20.3% |
| 25th | $46,770 | −5.9% |
| Median (50th) | $60,310 | +21.4% |
| 75th | $64,410 | +29.6% |
| 90th | $75,330 | +51.6% |
| Mean | $57,860 | +16.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $66,610 | 110 | |
| 2 | Denver | $61,190 | 1,970 | |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $58,530 | 420 | |
| 4 | Greeley | $56,160 | 250 | |
| 5 | Fort Collins | $56,020 | 120 | |
| 6 | Grand Junction | $54,930 | 120 | |
| 7 | Pueblo | $46,750 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $60,310 buys what $58,497 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,497US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,310 a year, 21.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,580 to $75,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,700 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 9th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boulder, at $66,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $60,310, or $29.00 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 Colorado is 21.4% 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 Colorado earns more than $75,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,580 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 Boulder, at $66,610 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,700 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. 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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