Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $59,730 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,339 take-home, or $4,028 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,988
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,703
- Medicare (1.45%)$866
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,834
- Take-home pay$48,339
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,234 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $46,105 ($3,842 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,040 | $17.33 | $30,032 | $2,503 |
| 25th percentile | $43,150 | $20.75 | $35,526 | $2,961 |
| Median (50th) | $59,730 | $28.72 | $48,339 | $4,028 |
| 75th percentile | $63,960 | $30.75 | $51,608 | $4,301 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,250 | $34.25 | $56,767 | $4,731 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,730 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median refuse and recyclable material collector's $48,339 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,136 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 about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #2 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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $59,730 a year, or about $28.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,150 and $63,960.
What is a refuse and recyclable material collector’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $59,730 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $48,339 a year ($4,028 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,834 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a refuse and recyclable material collector?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $49,690. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,136 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #2 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median refuse and recyclable material collector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
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