SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Louisiana
Louisiana · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Louisiana is $38,810 per year, 21.9% below the national median of $49,690.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Louisiana is $38,810 per year, 21.9% below the national median of $49,690. Half of workers earn between $34,110 and $49,270. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,840 and the ninetieth at $59,010.
The area has 2,200 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.1 of every thousand jobs. Louisiana ranks number 46th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Baton Rouge records the highest median at $44,300. Of the 679 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 510th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,840 | −44.0% |
| 25th | $34,110 | −31.4% |
| Median (50th) | $38,810 | −21.9% |
| 75th | $49,270 | −0.8% |
| 90th | $59,010 | +18.8% |
| Mean | $41,900 | −15.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge | $44,300 | 390 | |
| 2 | Shreveport | $42,120 | 160 | |
| 3 | Slidell | $39,900 | 170 | |
| 4 | New Orleans | $39,040 | 560 | |
| 5 | Lake Charles | $38,330 | 90 | |
| 6 | Hammond | $37,920 | 40 | |
| 7 | Monroe | $37,190 | 80 | |
| 8 | Lafayette | $36,470 | 180 | |
| 9 | Alexandria | $35,500 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $38,810 goes as far as $44,002 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,002US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,810 a year, 21.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,840 to $59,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,200 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 46th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Baton Rouge, at $44,300.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $38,810, or $18.66 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 Louisiana is 21.9% 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 Louisiana earns more than $59,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,840 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 Baton Rouge, at $44,300 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,200 jobs in this occupation in Louisiana. 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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