SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Iowa
Iowa · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $49,850 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $49,690.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $49,850 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $49,690. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,190 and $58,050. The lowest tenth earn under $38,220, while the highest tenth earn more than $63,350.
The area has 1,780 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.1 of every thousand jobs. Iowa ranks number 23rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Davenport records the highest median at $75,440. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 444th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,220 | −23.1% |
| 25th | $46,190 | −7.0% |
| Median (50th) | $49,850 | +0.3% |
| 75th | $58,050 | +16.8% |
| 90th | $63,350 | +27.5% |
| Mean | $51,120 | +2.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $75,440 | 750 | |
| 2 | Des Moines | $56,990 | 440 | |
| 3 | Iowa City | $56,810 | 60 | |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $50,820 | 140 | |
| 5 | Waterloo | $50,770 | 140 | |
| 6 | Sioux City | $47,830 | 70 | |
| 7 | Ames | $47,810 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $49,850 goes as far as $56,777 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,777US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,850 a year, 0.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,220 to $63,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,780 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 23rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $75,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $49,850, or $23.97 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 Iowa is 0.3% 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 Iowa earns more than $63,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,220 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 Davenport, at $75,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,780 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. 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.
Explore related data