Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,860 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Tucson earn between $34,480 and $56,530.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $39KMedian
- $57K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,530 | $3,794 | $21.89 |
| Median | $38,630 | $3,219 | $18.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,480 | $2,873 | $16.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,530 | $4,711 | $27.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Tucson earn 6% less than the Arizona average ($48,500) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $45,530 | $38,630 | $30,830 | $72,860 | 190 |
| Arizona | $48,500 | $46,910 | $33,480 | $73,610 | 2,380 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $45,530, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $38,019 a year, or $3,168 a month and $1,462 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $45,530 buys what about $46,989 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 3rd of 5 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($49,520).
- Phoenix$49,520
- Prescott Valley$46,170
- Tucson$45,530
- Lake Havasu City$43,990
- Sierra Vista$38,390
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Arizona
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 Tucson: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Tucson?
$21.89 an hour on average, and $18.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Tucson?
About $38,019 a year ($3,168 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,530.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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