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Garbage Collector Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Garbage Collector make? The median Garbage Collector salary in the US is about $52,860 per year (roughly $25.00 an hour), across 147,220 jobs (Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $32,950 in South Dakota to $75,050 in Illinois. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Garbage Collector salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| Illinois | $75,050 | 4,910 |
| Washington | $74,620 | 3,750 |
| New York | $64,950 | 11,630 |
| California | $64,890 | 13,930 |
| Oregon | $63,210 | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $62,570 | 2,500 |
| Nevada | $61,310 | 770 |
| Delaware | $61,290 | 600 |
| Colorado | $60,310 | 3,700 |
| Wisconsin | $59,810 | 1,550 |
| Utah | $59,310 | 960 |
| North Dakota | $59,000 | 360 |
| Indiana | $58,900 | 3,180 |
| Hawaii | $56,270 | 770 |
| Rhode Island | $55,970 | 470 |
| District of Columbia | $55,490 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $54,630 | 4,330 |
| Vermont | $51,960 | 160 |
| Michigan | $51,030 | 4,020 |
| Massachusetts | $50,310 | 1,010 |
| Missouri | $50,010 | 1,930 |
| Idaho | $49,880 | 730 |
| Iowa | $49,850 | 1,780 |
| Montana | $49,420 | 370 |
| Nebraska | $49,390 | 910 |
| Ohio | $49,330 | 4,710 |
| Wyoming | $48,820 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,240 | 6,220 |
| Florida | $47,820 | 11,650 |
| New Mexico | $47,660 | 1,070 |
| Georgia | $46,960 | 4,830 |
| Arizona | $46,910 | 2,380 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 | 340 |
| Virginia | $46,530 | 4,330 |
| Texas | $46,330 | 12,860 |
| Alabama | $46,240 | 2,790 |
| Alaska | $45,740 | 250 |
| Kansas | $45,510 | 910 |
| North Carolina | $44,670 | 7,250 |
| Maine | $43,360 | 770 |
| Tennessee | $43,270 | 2,550 |
| Kentucky | $43,100 | 1,580 |
| Oklahoma | $43,060 | 2,030 |
| Maryland | $41,870 | 3,120 |
| Mississippi | $39,170 | 1,970 |
| Louisiana | $38,810 | 2,200 |
| Connecticut | $38,220 | 810 |
| West Virginia | $35,840 | 1,000 |
| Arkansas | $35,640 | 1,600 |
| South Carolina | $34,880 | 2,020 |
| South Dakota | $32,950 | 340 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Garbage Collector make?
- A Garbage Collector makes a median of about $52,860 per year in the US (roughly $25.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $32,950 in South Dakota to $75,050 in Illinois depending on the state.
- What is the average Garbage Collector salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Garbage Collector salary in the US is about $52,860 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 147,220 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Garbage Collectors the most?
- Illinois has the highest median Garbage Collector salary at $75,050 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Garbage Collectors the least?
- South Dakota has the lowest median at $32,950 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors, code 53-7081). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.