Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in Massachusetts: $56,000 Average

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Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET

Average base salary, Massachusetts

$56,000 / year

≈ $4,650 per month · $26.92 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for Massachusetts · median $52,000

25th percentile
$46,500Average
$56,00075th percentile
$64,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by state

Alabama$47,000

Alaska$53,500

Arizona$50,000

Arkansas$38,500

California$68,500

Colorado$60,000

Connecticut$46,500

Delaware$60,000

District of Columbia$58,000

Florida$50,500

Georgia$48,000

Hawaii$55,500

Idaho$53,000

Illinois$70,500

Indiana$57,000

Iowa$53,000

Kansas$44,500

Kentucky$44,000

Louisiana$43,500

Maine$46,500

Maryland$48,500

Massachusetts$56,000

Michigan$54,000

Minnesota$62,000

Mississippi$44,000

Missouri$52,000

Montana$52,000

Nebraska$50,500

Nevada$66,500

New Hampshire$49,000

New Jersey$56,000

New Mexico$48,500

New York$69,500

North Carolina$44,000

North Dakota$58,000

Ohio$51,500

Oklahoma$45,000

Oregon$65,000

Pennsylvania$51,000

Rhode Island$55,000

South Carolina$37,000

South Dakota$36,000

Tennessee$46,000

Texas$46,500

Utah$58,500

Vermont$56,000

Virginia$47,500

Washington$74,000

West Virginia$38,000

Wisconsin$57,000

Wyoming$49,000

About this role

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is a professional role within the function in the Transportation and Material Moving job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectorss do

Typical education: High School Diploma

Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.
Fill out defective equipment reports.

Top skills: Operations Monitoring Operation and Control Speaking Active Listening Equipment Maintenance Critical Thinking

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay by experience level

Entry level$35,000

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$40,500

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$51,500

Mid-career median pay

Senior$64,000

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$78,500

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+0.9%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

16,900

projected openings per year

Growing slower than average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary by industry

Waste Management and Remediation Services

94,170 workers

$56,000

Waste Collection

76,410 workers

$55,000

Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS

44,150 workers

$53,500

Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

43,690 workers

$53,500

Waste Treatment and Disposal

15,380 workers

$63,000

Administrative and Support Services

4,210 workers

$39,500

Employment Services

3,500 workers

$38,000

Remediation and Other Waste Management Services

2,390 workers

$51,500

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

1,260 workers

$52,500

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only)

1,140 workers

$51,500

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pays 21% below the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).

Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving

Transportation Workers, All Other$52,500

Bridge and Lock Tenders$57,500

Taxi Driver$51,500

Dredge Operator$58,000

Motorboat Operator$58,500

Light Truck Driver$50,500

Sailors and Marine Oilers$59,000

Bus Drivers, School$50,000

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$62,000

Material Moving Workers, All Other$47,000

Careers related to Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Recycling and Reclamation Workers$44,000

Hazardous Materials Removal Worker$58,500

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$62,000

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$62,000

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$55,500

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$50,000

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors make?

The average base salary for a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the United States is $54,500 per year, or about $26.20 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $40,500 and $64,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?

The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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