Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,200 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Milwaukee earn between $58,470 and $64,050.
- $34K10th
- $58K25th
- $64KMedian
- $64K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,730 | $4,811 | $27.75 |
| Median | $63,640 | $5,303 | $30.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,470 | $4,872 | $28.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,050 | $5,338 | $30.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Milwaukee earn 5% more than the Wisconsin average ($55,090) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $57,730 | $63,640 | $33,630 | $64,200 | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $55,090 | $59,810 | $33,360 | $64,200 | 1,550 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $57,730, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $46,608 a year, or $3,884 a month and $1,793 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $57,730 buys what about $59,554 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 2nd of 7 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Janesville pays the most ($59,160).
- Janesville$59,160
- Milwaukee$57,730
- Eau Claire$56,950
- Kenosha$54,180
- Madison$53,970
- Green Bay$51,500
- La Crosse$48,460
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Wisconsin
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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Milwaukee?
$27.76 an hour on average, and $30.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $46,608 a year ($3,884 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,730.
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.