SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Detroit, MI is $51,070 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 Detroit, MI is $51,070 per year, close to the national median of $49,690 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $37,510 and $61,760. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,150 and the ninetieth at $79,650.
The area has 1,900 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.0 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Saginaw records the highest median at $59,620. Of the 671 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 417th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,150 | −31.3% |
| 25th | $37,510 | −24.5% |
| Median (50th) | $51,070 | +2.8% |
| 75th | $61,760 | +24.3% |
| 90th | $79,650 | +60.3% |
| Mean | $52,730 | +6.1% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saginaw | $59,620 | 40 | |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | $50,980 | 340 | |
| 3 | Traverse City | $49,450 | 260 | |
| 4 | Lansing | $49,440 | 250 | |
| 5 | Flint | $48,270 | 170 | |
| 6 | Monroe | $48,160 | 200 | |
| 7 | Muskegon | $46,640 | 60 | |
| 8 | Ann Arbor | $46,310 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $51,070 goes as far as $53,087 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,087US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,070 a year, 2.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,150 to $79,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,900 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Saginaw, at $59,620.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $51,070, or $24.55 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 Detroit, MI is 2.8% 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 Detroit, MI earns more than $79,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,150 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 Saginaw, at $59,620 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,900 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. 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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