Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,730 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Amherst earn between $53,580 and $62,630.
- $48K10th
- $54K25th
- $62KMedian
- $63K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,990 | $4,916 | $28.36 |
| Median | $61,800 | $5,150 | $29.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,580 | $4,465 | $25.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,630 | $5,219 | $30.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Amherst vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Amherst earn 9% more than the Massachusetts average ($54,230) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | $58,990 | $61,800 | $47,530 | $64,730 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $54,230 | $50,310 | $39,180 | $73,090 | 1,010 |
| 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 Amherst
On the average salary of $58,990, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $46,949 a year, or $3,912 a month and $1,806 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $58,990 buys what about $58,847 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 1st of 5 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Amherst$58,990
- Barnstable$55,060
- Boston$53,490
- Springfield$50,950
- Worcester$50,660
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Massachusetts
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 Amherst: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Amherst?
$28.36 an hour on average, and $29.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Amherst?
About $46,949 a year ($3,912 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,990. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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