SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Knoxville, TN is $51,030 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 Knoxville, TN is $51,030 per year, close to the national median of $49,690 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $24,830 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,200 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $31,330 to $59,120.
Employment stands at 350, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $57,650. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 276th of 536 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,830 | −50.0% |
| 25th | $31,330 | −36.9% |
| Median (50th) | $51,030 | +2.7% |
| 75th | $59,120 | +19.0% |
| 90th | $60,200 | +21.2% |
| Mean | $45,620 | −8.2% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $57,650 | 520 | |
| 2 | Jackson | $50,050 | 100 | |
| 3 | Clarksville | $49,670 | 70 | |
| 4 | Memphis | $44,470 | 890 | |
| 5 | Kingsport | $44,450 | 90 | |
| 6 | Morristown | $38,020 | 100 | |
| 7 | Cleveland | $37,540 | 40 | |
| 8 | Chattanooga | $36,090 | 80 | |
| 9 | Johnson City | $28,880 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Knoxville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $51,030 goes as far as $55,528 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,528US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,030 a year, 2.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $24,830 to $60,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 350 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $57,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Knoxville, TN?
The median annual wage is $51,030, or $24.53 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 Knoxville, TN is 2.7% 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 Knoxville, TN earns more than $60,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $24,830 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 Nashville, at $57,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 350 jobs in this occupation in Knoxville, TN. 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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