Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Worcester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,900 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Worcester earn between $40,990 and $58,750.
- $39K10th
- $41K25th
- $47KMedian
- $59K75th
- $67K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,660 | $4,222 | $24.36 |
| Median | $46,740 | $3,895 | $22.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,990 | $3,416 | $19.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,750 | $4,896 | $28.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Worcester vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Worcester earn 7% less than the Massachusetts average ($54,230) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $50,660 | $46,740 | $39,050 | $66,900 | 160 |
| 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 Worcester
On the average salary of $50,660, a single filer in Worcester takes home about $40,672 a year, or $3,389 a month and $1,564 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 Worcester a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Worcester area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.5), so the average $50,660 buys what about $49,413 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Worcester ($57,830). A typical home costs $482,611, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Massachusetts cities
Worcester ranks 5th of 5 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Amherst pays the most ($58,990).
- 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 Worcester: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Worcester?
$24.36 an hour on average, and $22.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Worcester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Worcester?
About $40,672 a year ($3,389 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,660. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Worcester than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Worcester, MA (49340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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