Salaries › Garbage Collector › Kentucky
Garbage Collector Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$20.72 per hour · take-home ≈ $35,302/year ($2,942/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for Garbage Collector pay, with a median about 18% below the national average. Of the 1,580 Garbage Collector jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $43,100 a year — though pay ranges from $29,610 for newcomers to $56,170 at the top.
Garbage Collector pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $29,610 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $34,710 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $43,100 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $48,870 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $56,170 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,580 Garbage Collector jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 53-7081, “Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Garbage Collector salary of $43,100 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $35,302 — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
| Gross (median) | $43,100 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,992 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,297 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,509 |
| Take-home (annual) | $35,302 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,942 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Garbage Collector make in Kentucky?
- The median Garbage Collector salary in Kentucky is $43,100 per year ($20.72 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $34,710 and $48,870.
- What is the take-home pay for a Garbage Collector in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $43,100, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $35,302 per year ($2,942 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
- How many Garbage Collector jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 1,580 Garbage Collector jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Garbage Collectors
Other salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.