Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,210 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Salinas earn between $48,990 and $69,210.
- $46K10th
- $49K25th
- $69KMedian
- $69K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,500 | $5,208 | $30.05 |
| Median | $69,210 | $5,768 | $33.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,990 | $4,082 | $23.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,210 | $5,768 | $33.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Salinas earn 6% less than the California average ($66,300) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $62,500 | $69,210 | $45,640 | $69,210 | 90 |
| 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 Salinas
On the average salary of $62,500, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $50,456 a year, or $4,205 a month and $1,941 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 Salinas a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $62,500 buys what about $57,317 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 13.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 11th 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
- Salinas$62,500
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 Salinas: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Salinas?
$30.05 an hour on average, and $33.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Salinas?
About $50,456 a year ($4,205 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,500. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- 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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