Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Salary in Riverside, CA
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $61,940 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,378 take-home, or $4,115 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,253
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,840
- Medicare (1.45%)$898
- California income tax$1,766
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$805
- Take-home pay$49,378
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,230 | $22.23 | $37,886 | $3,157 |
| 25th percentile | $52,430 | $25.21 | $42,431 | $3,536 |
| Median (50th) | $61,940 | $29.78 | $49,378 | $4,115 |
| 75th percentile | $72,420 | $34.82 | $56,255 | $4,688 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,920 | $36.02 | $57,781 | $4,815 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,940 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median refuse and recyclable material collector's $49,378 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,389 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #19 of 52 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport, IA | $75,440 | $59,687 | $67,005 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $87,430 | $65,299 | $59,135 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $77,470 | $59,640 | $57,571 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $75,090 | $61,656 | $55,479 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $60,750 | $49,075 | $51,610 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $77,570 | $59,399 | $51,377 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $56,990 | $46,458 | $50,662 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $59,710 | $48,425 | $50,603 |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $61,940 | $49,378 | $46,389 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 52 metros →
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $87,430
- San Francisco, CA — $77,570
- Sacramento, CA — $65,950
- San Diego, CA — $69,300
- Los Angeles, CA — $62,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make in Riverside, CA?
The median refuse and recyclable material collector salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $61,940 a year, or about $29.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,430 and $72,420.
What is a refuse and recyclable material collector’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $61,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $49,378 a year ($4,115 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,571 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a refuse and recyclable material collector?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $49,690. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,389 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #19 of 52 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a refuse and recyclable material collector afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 43% 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 Riverside, CA
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $69,920
- Bus Drivers, School — $61,900
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,580
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $56,940
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,850
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,060
- Driver/Sales Worker — $45,760
- Light Truck Driver — $45,560
- Stocker and Order Filler — $43,200
- Conveyor Operator and Tender — $42,990
- Machine Feeder and Offbearer — $38,980
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $38,400