SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Massachusetts is $50,310 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 Massachusetts is $50,310 per year, close to the national median of $49,690 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $39,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $73,090 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,040 to $62,360.
Employment stands at 1,010, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Massachusetts ranks 20th by median wage. Amherst Town leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $61,800. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 536th of 717 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,180 | −21.2% |
| 25th | $45,040 | −9.4% |
| Median (50th) | $50,310 | +1.2% |
| 75th | $62,360 | +25.5% |
| 90th | $73,090 | +47.1% |
| Mean | $54,230 | +9.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amherst Town | $61,800 | 50 | |
| 2 | Springfield | $52,450 | 90 | |
| 3 | Barnstable Town | $50,990 | 40 | |
| 4 | Boston | $50,210 | 540 | |
| 5 | Worcester | $46,740 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $50,310 buys what $47,552 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,552US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,310 a year, 1.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,180 to $73,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,010 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 20th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Amherst Town, at $61,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Massachusetts?
The median annual wage is $50,310, or $24.19 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 Massachusetts is 1.2% 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 Massachusetts earns more than $73,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,180 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 Amherst Town, at $61,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,010 jobs in this occupation in Massachusetts. 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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