SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Sumter
Sumter, SC · 7 metro areas compared
At $48,160, median pay for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Sumter, SC tracks the national median of $49,690 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $48,160, median pay for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Sumter, SC tracks the national median of $49,690 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $33,430 and $59,160. The lowest tenth earn under $27,680, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,530.
Employment stands at 40, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Hilton Head Island leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,340. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 82nd of 166 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,680 | −44.3% |
| 25th | $33,430 | −32.7% |
| Median (50th) | $48,160 | −3.1% |
| 75th | $59,160 | +19.1% |
| 90th | $59,530 | +19.8% |
| Mean | $44,350 | −10.7% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton Head Island | $46,340 | 70 | |
| 2 | Charleston | $37,890 | 260 | |
| 3 | Spartanburg | $36,880 | 100 | |
| 4 | Greenville | $35,840 | 230 | |
| 5 | Myrtle Beach | $35,190 | 180 | |
| 6 | Columbia | $34,800 | 380 | |
| 7 | Florence | $32,540 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Sumter run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $48,160 goes as far as $51,398 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,398US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,160 a year, 3.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,680 to $59,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hilton Head Island, at $46,340.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Sumter, SC?
The median annual wage is $48,160, or $23.16 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 Sumter, SC is 3.1% 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 Sumter, SC earns more than $59,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,680 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 Hilton Head Island, at $46,340 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Sumter, SC. 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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