Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,230 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Chattanooga earn between $34,570 and $50,680.
- $29K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $51K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,650 | $3,388 | $19.54 |
| Median | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,570 | $2,881 | $16.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,680 | $4,223 | $24.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Chattanooga earn 8% less than the Tennessee average ($44,320) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $40,650 | $36,090 | $28,670 | $59,230 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $44,320 | $43,270 | $28,390 | $61,400 | 2,550 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $40,650, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $34,842 a year, or $2,904 a month and $1,340 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $34,842 | $2,904 |
| Working in GA | $33,562 | $2,797 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $40,650 buys what about $44,444 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 7th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($51,110).
- Nashville$51,110
- Clarksville$45,770
- Knoxville$45,620
- Jackson$45,010
- Memphis$44,720
- Kingsport$42,760
- Chattanooga$40,650
- Cleveland$39,410
- Morristown$38,700
- Johnson City$32,660
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Tennessee
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Chattanooga?
$19.54 an hour on average, and $17.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $34,842 a year ($2,904 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,650. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.31, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.31).
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