Salaries › Garbage Collector › Iowa
Garbage Collector Salary in Iowa (2026)
$23.97 per hour · take-home ≈ $40,340/year ($3,362/month) for a single filer
Iowa ranks 23rd of 51 states for Garbage Collector pay, with a median about 6% below the national average. Of the 1,780 Garbage Collector jobs BLS counts in Iowa, the typical worker earns $49,850 a year — though pay ranges from $38,220 for newcomers to $63,350 at the top.
Garbage Collector pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $38,220 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,190 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $49,850 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $58,050 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $63,350 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,780 Garbage Collector jobs in Iowa (occupation code 53-7081, “Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Garbage Collector salary of $49,850 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Iowa state income tax, a single filer keeps about $40,340 — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
| Gross (median) | $49,850 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,802 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,814 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$1,894 |
| Take-home (annual) | $40,340 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,362 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Garbage Collector make in Iowa?
- The median Garbage Collector salary in Iowa is $49,850 per year ($23.97 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,190 and $58,050.
- What is the take-home pay for a Garbage Collector in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $49,850, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $40,340 per year ($3,362 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
- How many Garbage Collector jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 1,780 Garbage Collector jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Garbage Collectors
Other salaries in Iowa
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Iowa state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Iowa.