Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $62,490 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,779 take-home, or $4,148 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,319
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,874
- Medicare (1.45%)$906
- California income tax$1,799
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$812
- Take-home pay$49,779
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,810 | $17.70 | $30,817 | $2,568 |
| 25th percentile | $49,140 | $23.63 | $40,027 | $3,336 |
| Median (50th) | $62,490 | $30.04 | $49,779 | $4,148 |
| 75th percentile | $72,340 | $34.78 | $56,206 | $4,684 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,650 | $36.37 | $58,226 | $4,852 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,490 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median refuse and recyclable material collector's $49,779 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,833 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 Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $62,490 a year, or about $30.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,140 and $72,340.
What is a refuse and recyclable material collector’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $62,490 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $49,779 a year ($4,148 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,611 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a refuse and recyclable material collector?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $49,690. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,833 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 54% 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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