Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,310 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Portland earn between $63,640 and $72,400.
- $61K10th
- $64K25th
- $66KMedian
- $72K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,580 | $5,548 | $32.01 |
| Median | $65,920 | $5,493 | $31.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,640 | $5,303 | $30.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,400 | $6,033 | $34.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Portland earn 6% more than the Oregon average ($62,930) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $66,580 | $65,920 | $60,830 | $76,310 | 1,500 |
| Oregon | $62,930 | $63,210 | $53,270 | $72,440 | 2,500 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $66,580, a single filer in Portland takes home about $50,910 a year, or $4,242 a month and $1,958 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $55,669 | $4,639 |
| Working in OR | $50,910 | $4,242 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $66,580 buys what about $63,156 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 6 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Oregon
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Portland: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Portland?
$32.01 an hour on average, and $31.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Portland?
About $50,910 a year ($4,242 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,580. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.