SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Muncie
Muncie, IN · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Muncie, IN comes to $60,940 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 22.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Muncie, IN comes to $60,940 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 22.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $51,170 and $60,940. The lowest tenth earn under $47,120, while the highest tenth earn more than $62,250.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.81 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. South Bend leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $60,080. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 59th of 192 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,120 | −5.2% |
| 25th | $51,170 | +3.0% |
| Median (50th) | $60,940 | +22.6% |
| 75th | $60,940 | +22.6% |
| 90th | $62,250 | +25.3% |
| Mean | $56,740 | +14.2% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Bend | $60,080 | 100 | |
| 2 | Indianapolis | $59,710 | 1,030 | |
| 3 | Fort Wayne | $58,650 | 170 | |
| 4 | Evansville | $57,750 | 120 | |
| 5 | Terre Haute | $57,010 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Muncie run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $60,940 goes as far as $65,316 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 31.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,940as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,316US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,940 a year, 22.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,120 to $62,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is South Bend, at $60,080.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Muncie, IN?
The median annual wage is $60,940, or $29.30 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 Muncie, IN is 22.6% 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 Muncie, IN earns more than $62,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,120 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 South Bend, at $60,080 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Muncie, IN. 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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