SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 10 metro areas compared
At $47,040, median pay for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Lakeland, FL tracks the national median of $49,690 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $47,040, median pay for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Lakeland, FL tracks the national median of $49,690 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,810 and $50,930. The lowest tenth earn under $36,170, while the highest tenth earn more than $56,600.
The area has 380 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.50 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Wildwood leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $52,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 251st of 429 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,170 | −27.2% |
| 25th | $37,810 | −23.9% |
| Median (50th) | $47,040 | −5.3% |
| 75th | $50,930 | +2.5% |
| 90th | $56,600 | +13.9% |
| Mean | $46,500 | −6.4% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wildwood | $52,060 | — | |
| 2 | Miami | $49,770 | 3,370 | |
| 3 | Orlando | $48,920 | 1,420 | |
| 4 | Palm Bay | $48,870 | 170 | |
| 5 | Pensacola | $48,760 | 250 | |
| 6 | Jacksonville | $48,150 | 760 | |
| 7 | Naples | $48,100 | — | |
| 8 | Cape Coral | $47,700 | 510 | |
| 9 | Panama City | $47,690 | 140 | |
| 10 | Tampa | $47,620 | 1,930 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lakeland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $47,040 buys what $45,493 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,040as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,493US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,040 a year, 5.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,170 to $56,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 380 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wildwood, at $52,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Lakeland, FL?
The median annual wage is $47,040, or $22.62 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 Lakeland, FL is 5.3% lower. 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 Lakeland, FL earns more than $56,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,170 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 Wildwood, at $52,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 380 jobs in this occupation in Lakeland, FL. 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