SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Grand Forks
Grand Forks, ND-MN · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Grand Forks, ND comes to $58,810 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 18.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Grand Forks, ND comes to $58,810 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 18.4%. Pay ranges from under $49,240 at the tenth percentile to more than $72,390 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $58,640 to $59,940.
The area has 60 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.13 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Fargo records the highest median at $60,840. Of the 248 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 130th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,240 | −0.9% |
| 25th | $58,640 | +18.0% |
| Median (50th) | $58,810 | +18.4% |
| 75th | $59,940 | +20.6% |
| 90th | $72,390 | +45.7% |
| Mean | $58,450 | +17.6% |
Other metro areas in North Dakota
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Forks run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $58,810 goes as far as $66,079 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 33.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,079US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,810 a year, 18.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,240 to $72,390 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fargo, at $60,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Grand Forks, ND?
The median annual wage is $58,810, or $28.27 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 Grand Forks, ND is 18.4% 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 Grand Forks, ND earns more than $72,390 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,240 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 Fargo, at $60,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Grand Forks, ND. 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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