Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary in Chicago, IL
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $77,470 a year — 56% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,640 take-home, or $4,970 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,213
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,803
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,123
- Illinois income tax$3,690
- Take-home pay$59,640
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,780 | $19.13 | $32,319 | $2,693 |
| 25th percentile | $62,280 | $29.94 | $49,284 | $4,107 |
| Median (50th) | $77,470 | $37.25 | $59,640 | $4,970 |
| 75th percentile | $86,460 | $41.57 | $65,520 | $5,460 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,090 | $42.83 | $67,240 | $5,603 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,470 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median refuse and recyclable material collector's $59,640 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,571 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #1 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 →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make in Chicago, IL?
The median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $77,470 a year, or about $37.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,280 and $86,460.
What is a refuse and recyclable material collector’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $77,470 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $59,640 a year ($4,970 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,690 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a refuse and recyclable material collector?
Pay here is 56% above the national median of $49,690. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,571 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 31% 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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