Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,440 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Decatur earn between $37,640 and $50,600.
- $31K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $51K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,080 | $3,673 | $21.19 |
| Median | $44,020 | $3,668 | $21.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,640 | $3,137 | $18.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,600 | $4,217 | $24.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Decatur vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Decatur earn 3% less than the Alabama average ($45,450) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $44,080 | $44,020 | $31,220 | $59,440 | 80 |
| Alabama | $45,450 | $46,240 | $29,500 | $61,000 | 2,790 |
| United States | $52,820 | $49,690 | $33,590 | $75,900 | 147,240 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary after taxes in Decatur
On the average salary of $44,080, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $35,790 a year, or $2,982 a month and $1,377 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Decatur a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $44,080 buys what about $50,544 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($46,280). A typical home costs $232,614, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Alabama cities
Decatur ranks 8th of 11 Alabama metro areas for this job; Huntsville pays the most ($52,950).
- Huntsville$52,950
- Mobile$51,360
- Auburn$50,980
- Birmingham$49,070
- Daphne$48,020
- Anniston$47,720
- Tuscaloosa$47,520
- Decatur$44,080
- Dothan$41,720
- Florence$40,070
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Alabama
Highest-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($88,030).
- San Jose, CA$88,030
- Seattle, WA$76,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,010
- Chicago, IL$71,570
- Santa Rosa, CA$70,560
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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Decatur: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Decatur?
$21.19 an hour on average, and $21.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Decatur?
About $35,790 a year ($2,982 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,080. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($52,820).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-7081; area Decatur, AL (19460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.41, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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