Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,940 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Chico earn between $45,300 and $66,890.
- $36K10th
- $45K25th
- $61KMedian
- $67K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,080 | $4,840 | $27.92 |
| Median | $61,250 | $5,104 | $29.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,300 | $3,775 | $21.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,890 | $5,574 | $32.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Chico earn 12% less than the California average ($66,300) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $58,080 | $61,250 | $36,430 | $88,940 | 30 |
| California | $66,300 | $64,890 | $45,970 | $90,370 | 13,930 |
| 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 Chico
On the average salary of $58,080, a single filer in Chico takes home about $47,170 a year, or $3,931 a month and $1,814 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $58,080 buys what about $57,393 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 17th of 22 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($88,030).
- San Jose$88,030
- San Francisco$76,010
- Santa Rosa$70,560
- San Diego$68,770
- Napa$67,510
- Santa Maria$67,140
- Sacramento$66,140
- Oxnard$65,980
- Vallejo$65,430
- Chico$58,080
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in California
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 Chico: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Chico?
$27.92 an hour on average, and $29.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Chico?
About $47,170 a year ($3,931 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,080. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more 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 Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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