Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary in New York, NY
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $65,310 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,727 take-home, or $4,311 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,657
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,049
- Medicare (1.45%)$947
- New York income tax$2,930
- Take-home pay$51,727
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,097 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,630 ($4,136 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,130 | $19.77 | $33,604 | $2,800 |
| 25th percentile | $46,990 | $22.59 | $37,996 | $3,166 |
| Median (50th) | $65,310 | $31.40 | $51,727 | $4,311 |
| 75th percentile | $86,310 | $41.50 | $65,485 | $5,457 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,720 | $41.69 | $65,752 | $5,479 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,310 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median refuse and recyclable material collector's $51,727 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,954 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.5× the national concentration of refuse and recyclable material collector jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #3 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $77,470 | $59,640 | $57,571 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,730 | $48,339 | $47,136 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $65,310 | $51,727 | $45,954 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $62,490 | $49,779 | $43,833 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $47,960 | $40,716 | $39,495 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $47,840 | $38,759 | $38,737 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | $49,770 | $42,170 | $36,941 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $46,530 | $37,941 | $34,845 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
About the job: refuse and recyclable material collectors
Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.1% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make in New York, NY?
The median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $65,310 a year, or about $31.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,990 and $86,310.
What is a refuse and recyclable material collector’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $65,310 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $51,727 a year ($4,311 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,930 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a refuse and recyclable material collector?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $49,690. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,954 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #3 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 55% of a median refuse and recyclable material collector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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