Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Topeka
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,270 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Topeka earn between $27,250 and $45,760.
- $27K10th
- $27K25th
- $44KMedian
- $46K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,140 | $3,345 | $19.30 |
| Median | $43,580 | $3,632 | $20.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,250 | $2,271 | $13.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,760 | $3,813 | $22.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Topeka vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Topeka earn 7% less than the Kansas average ($42,960) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $40,140 | $43,580 | $27,250 | $55,270 | 100 |
| Kansas | $42,960 | $45,510 | $29,100 | $57,090 | 910 |
| 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 Topeka
On the average salary of $40,140, a single filer in Topeka takes home about $32,992 a year, or $2,749 a month and $1,269 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Topeka a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Topeka area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $40,140 buys what about $45,193 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Topeka ($49,540). A typical home costs $217,683, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Kansas cities
Topeka ranks 2nd of 2 Kansas metro areas for this job; Wichita pays the most ($46,500).
- Wichita$46,500
- Topeka$40,140
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Kansas
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 Topeka: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Topeka?
$19.30 an hour on average, and $20.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Topeka?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Topeka?
About $32,992 a year ($2,749 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,140.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Topeka than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Topeka, KS (45820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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