Salaries › Garbage Collector › South Carolina
Garbage Collector Salary in South Carolina (2026)
$16.77 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,270/year ($2,439/month) for a single filer
South Carolina ranks 50th of 51 states for Garbage Collector pay, with a median about 34% below the national average. Of the 2,020 Garbage Collector jobs BLS counts in South Carolina, the typical worker earns $34,880 a year — though pay ranges from $22,340 for newcomers to $50,600 at the top.
Garbage Collector pay range in South Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $22,340 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $27,850 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,880 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $42,150 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $50,600 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,020 Garbage Collector jobs in South Carolina (occupation code 53-7081, “Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Carolina
A median Garbage Collector salary of $34,880 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus South Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $29,270 — an effective tax rate of 16.1%.
| Gross (median) | $34,880 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,006 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,668 |
| South Carolina state income tax | −$936 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,270 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,439 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free South Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Garbage Collector make in South Carolina?
- The median Garbage Collector salary in South Carolina is $34,880 per year ($16.77 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $27,850 and $42,150.
- What is the take-home pay for a Garbage Collector in South Carolina?
- On the median salary of $34,880, a single filer in South Carolina takes home about $29,270 per year ($2,439 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.1%.
- How many Garbage Collector jobs are there in South Carolina?
- BLS counts 2,020 Garbage Collector jobs in South Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Garbage Collectors
Other salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina.