Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Pennsylvania
$49,400avg. a year
$23.75 an hour · 6,220 employed
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Pennsylvania earn an average of $49,400 a year. That is $3,420 (6%) less than the U.S. average of $52,820. The best-paying metro area is Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA at $56,110.
$48,240Median pay
$23.75Average hourly
+34%Avg. pay since 2020
#27Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Pennsylvania metro areas
Average pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors by metro area. Swipe to see all 12.
1140 jobs
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
$56,110
$26.97 an hour
22,610 jobs
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
$55,700
$26.78 an hour
3110 jobs
Chambersburg, PA
$53,930
$25.93 an hour
4480 jobs
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
$50,790
$24.42 an hour
580 jobs
State College, PA
$50,360
$24.21 an hour
6300 jobs
Lancaster, PA
$48,240
$23.19 an hour
71,220 jobs
Pittsburgh, PA
$48,030
$23.09 an hour
8150 jobs
York-Hanover, PA
$47,420
$22.80 an hour
9340 jobs
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
$46,270
$22.25 an hour
10170 jobs
Erie, PA
$45,840
$22.04 an hour
11210 jobs
Reading, PA
$44,610
$21.45 an hour
1260 jobs
Altoona, PA
$38,580
$18.55 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Pennsylvania, charted
Pay over time
Pennsylvania, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Pennsylvania refuse and recyclable material collectors work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Pennsylvania highlighted · tap a state
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Under $45k$45k–$50k$50k–$55k$55k+Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $52,820 | $25.39 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| New York | $67,130 | $32.27 |
| Delaware | $58,000 | $27.88 |
| New Jersey | $54,260 | $26.09 |
| Ohio | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| Maryland | $46,740 | $22.47 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$43,130
- Stockers and Order Fillers$38,380
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$49,760
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$38,360
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,620
- Crane and Tower Operators$68,580
Average pay, Pennsylvania, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Pennsylvania?
The average is $49,400 a year, and the median is $48,240. That is $3,420 (6%) less than the U.S. average of $52,820.
What is the hourly wage in Pennsylvania?
$23.75 an hour on average; the median is $23.19.
Where in Pennsylvania do they earn the most?
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($56,110), followed by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($55,700). The lowest average among 12 metro areas with data is Altoona, PA ($38,580).
How does Pennsylvania rank?
Pennsylvania ranks #27 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 53-7081. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national refuse and recyclable material collectors page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.