311 metro areas
Garbage Collector Salary by City (2026)
Garbage collectors earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $88,030 a year, against $52,820 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($79,720 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $52,820BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $88,030San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $79,720San Jose, CA
- Metro areas
- 311With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for garbage collectors
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$88,030
- Seattle, WA$76,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,000
- Chicago, IL-IN$71,570
- Santa Rosa, CA$70,550
- Bremerton, WA$69,970
- Mount Vernon, WA$69,850
- Olympia, WA$69,100
- San Diego, CA$68,760
- Napa, CA$67,520
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $88,030 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $76,420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $71,570 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $70,550 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $69,970 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $69,850 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $69,100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $68,760 |
| Napa, CA | $67,520 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- San Jose, CA$88,030 nominal$79,720
- Davenport, IA-IL$66,710 nominal$74,890
- Chicago, IL-IN$71,570 nominal$69,090
- Seattle, WA$76,420 nominal$68,760
- Mount Vernon, WA$69,850 nominal$68,180
- Idaho Falls, ID$63,730 nominal$67,500
- Grand Forks, ND-MN$58,450 nominal$67,450
- Rochester, MN$60,720 nominal$66,860
- Kennewick, WA$66,890 nominal$66,840
- Olympia, WA$69,100 nominal$66,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,720 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $74,890 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $69,090 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $68,760 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $68,180 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $67,500 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $67,450 |
| Rochester, MN | $66,860 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $66,840 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $66,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Garbage Collector salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $88,030 | $60,110 | $101,770 | $79,720 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $76,420 | $61,170 | $83,930 | $68,760 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $76,000 | $54,890 | $86,400 | $65,740 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL-IN | $71,570 | $51,170 | $81,620 | $69,090 |
| 5 | Santa Rosa, CA | $70,550 | $52,960 | $79,230 | $65,450 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $69,970 | $54,310 | $77,690 | $66,260 |
| 7 | Mount Vernon, WA | $69,850 | $58,840 | $75,280 | $68,180 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $69,100 | $58,010 | $74,550 | $66,650 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $68,760 | $56,930 | $74,590 | $61,450 |
| 10 | Napa, CA | $67,520 | $56,200 | $73,070 | $59,990 |
| 11 | Santa Maria, CA | $67,140 | $58,410 | $71,450 | $61,710 |
| 12 | Kennewick, WA | $66,890 | $54,330 | $73,070 | $66,840 |
| 13 | Davenport, IA-IL | $66,710 | $51,130 | $74,360 | $74,890 |
| 14 | Portland, OR-WA | $66,580 | $59,260 | $70,180 | $63,160 |
| 15 | Spokane, WA | $66,190 | $54,870 | $71,780 | $65,960 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $66,140 | $52,810 | $72,720 | $62,000 |
| 17 | New York, NY-NJ | $66,040 | $43,330 | $77,210 | $58,670 |
| 18 | Oxnard, CA | $65,980 | $53,120 | $72,300 | $59,690 |
| 19 | Vallejo, CA | $65,440 | $46,130 | $74,920 | $60,330 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $65,330 | $48,130 | $73,800 | $64,670 |
| 21 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $64,330 | $49,770 | $71,510 | $59,240 |
| 22 | Idaho Falls, ID | $63,730 | $44,550 | $73,170 | $67,500 |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,340 | $47,800 | $70,990 | $63,200 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $62,920 | $52,120 | $68,220 | $60,030 |
| 25 | Salinas, CA | $62,500 | $45,910 | $70,660 | $57,320 |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $62,360 | $48,960 | $68,950 | $58,590 |
| 27 | Yakima, WA | $62,230 | $53,230 | $66,680 | $65,130 |
| 28 | Bend, OR | $62,210 | $56,530 | $65,000 | $60,040 |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $61,880 | $44,410 | $70,490 | $60,570 |
| 30 | Modesto, CA | $61,730 | $50,500 | $67,270 | $59,290 |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,710 | $44,740 | $70,080 | $54,340 |
| 32 | Albany, OR | $61,590 | $55,240 | $64,710 | $60,320 |
| 33 | Medford, OR | $61,460 | $56,220 | $64,020 | $60,590 |
| 34 | Springfield, IL | $61,360 | $39,150 | $72,300 | $66,160 |
| 35 | Salem, OR | $61,340 | $55,560 | $64,190 | $59,180 |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $60,720 | $46,490 | $67,750 | $57,400 |
| 37 | Rochester, MN | $60,720 | $50,730 | $65,640 | $66,860 |
| 38 | Boulder, CO | $60,170 | $43,450 | $68,410 | $57,190 |
| 39 | Bozeman, MT | $60,030 | $53,600 | $63,190 | $58,560 |
| 40 | Janesville, WI | $59,160 | $54,390 | $61,510 | $63,140 |
| 41 | Amherst Town, MA | $58,990 | $48,940 | $63,940 | $58,850 |
| 42 | Merced, CA | $58,590 | $39,670 | $67,910 | $59,620 |
| 43 | Walla Walla, WA | $58,550 | $48,210 | $63,650 | $59,430 |
| 44 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $58,450 | $51,230 | $62,000 | $67,450 |
| 45 | Salt Lake City, UT | $58,340 | $44,620 | $65,100 | $57,840 |
| 46 | Chico, CA | $58,070 | $41,120 | $66,440 | $57,380 |
| 47 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,890 | $41,290 | $66,060 | $60,880 |
| 48 | Eugene, OR | $57,820 | $51,650 | $60,860 | $56,930 |
| 49 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,740 | $45,010 | $64,000 | $59,560 |
| 50 | Bismarck, ND | $57,450 | $45,280 | $63,440 | $63,120 |
| 51 | Mankato, MN | $57,390 | $47,220 | $62,400 | $63,100 |
| 52 | Bakersfield, CA | $57,300 | $43,680 | $64,000 | $56,800 |
| 53 | Eau Claire, WI | $56,950 | $48,480 | $61,110 | $61,370 |
| 54 | Minot, ND | $56,930 | $51,230 | $59,740 | $65,420 |
| 55 | Muncie, IN | $56,740 | $47,610 | $61,240 | $64,370 |
| 56 | Peoria, IL | $56,700 | $40,580 | $64,630 | $62,150 |
| 57 | St. Cloud, MN | $56,470 | $46,550 | $61,360 | $64,440 |
| 58 | Mansfield, OH | $56,200 | $40,210 | $64,080 | $63,240 |
| 59 | Harrisburg, PA | $56,100 | $41,450 | $63,340 | $56,870 |
| 60 | Wenatchee, WA | $56,100 | $42,950 | $62,570 | $54,020 |
| 61 | Duluth, MN-WI | $56,010 | $39,850 | $63,980 | $63,100 |
| 62 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $55,700 | $38,650 | $64,110 | $54,310 |
| 63 | Anchorage, AK | $55,680 | $32,340 | $67,160 | $52,820 |
| 64 | Burlington, VT | $55,600 | $46,990 | $59,840 | $55,080 |
| 65 | South Bend, IN-MI | $55,580 | $41,000 | $62,750 | $59,850 |
| 66 | Fargo, ND-MN | $55,450 | $40,850 | $62,630 | $61,020 |
| 67 | Trenton, NJ | $55,370 | $43,180 | $61,380 | $53,660 |
| 68 | Evansville, IN | $55,200 | $46,300 | $59,590 | $60,310 |
| 69 | Indianapolis, IN | $55,200 | $43,330 | $61,070 | $57,680 |
| 70 | Ogden, UT | $55,100 | $44,240 | $60,440 | $54,910 |
| 71 | Barnstable Town, MA | $55,060 | $43,990 | $60,510 | $55,980 |
| 72 | Des Moines, IA | $55,040 | $43,280 | $60,820 | $60,020 |
| 73 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $55,000 | $38,270 | $63,230 | $49,570 |
| 74 | Stockton, CA | $54,970 | $42,040 | $61,340 | $52,310 |
| 75 | Colorado Springs, CO | $54,950 | $40,250 | $62,210 | $54,560 |
| 76 | Fort Collins, CO | $54,850 | $42,970 | $60,690 | $54,240 |
| 77 | Hanford, CA | $54,750 | $47,900 | $58,090 | $53,880 |
| 78 | Columbus, OH | $54,720 | $42,450 | $60,780 | $57,320 |
| 79 | Rochester, NY | $54,680 | $42,240 | $60,800 | $56,350 |
| 80 | Greeley, CO | $54,640 | $41,640 | $61,050 | $54,540 |
| 81 | Grand Junction, CO | $54,580 | $44,390 | $59,590 | $57,170 |
| 82 | Provo, UT | $54,560 | $40,330 | $61,570 | $55,540 |
| 83 | Providence, RI-MA | $54,430 | $42,520 | $60,300 | $53,480 |
| 84 | Kenosha, WI | $54,180 | $40,330 | $61,010 | $53,580 |
| 85 | Iowa City, IA | $54,000 | $42,930 | $59,450 | $59,010 |
| 86 | Madison, WI | $53,980 | $39,600 | $61,050 | $55,490 |
| 87 | Chambersburg, PA | $53,930 | $39,520 | $61,030 | $56,980 |
| 88 | Boston, MA-NH | $53,500 | $41,660 | $59,320 | $49,420 |
| 89 | Midland, TX | $53,230 | $44,280 | $57,620 | $55,570 |
| 90 | Fort Wayne, IN | $53,190 | $39,560 | $59,900 | $57,460 |
| 91 | Kahului, HI | $53,140 | $37,380 | $60,900 | $48,580 |
| 92 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $53,060 | $41,750 | $58,640 | $59,640 |
| 93 | Grand Rapids, MI | $53,060 | $36,800 | $61,070 | $55,530 |
| 94 | Huntsville, AL | $52,960 | $41,370 | $58,660 | $56,900 |
| 95 | Traverse City, MI | $52,770 | $38,150 | $59,970 | $56,520 |
| 96 | Detroit, MI | $52,730 | $35,630 | $61,150 | $52,570 |
| 97 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $52,730 | $40,660 | $58,660 | $48,190 |
| 98 | Lansing, MI | $52,640 | $38,380 | $59,680 | $55,420 |
| 99 | Cleveland, OH | $52,540 | $41,000 | $58,220 | $55,940 |
| 100 | Saginaw, MI | $52,440 | $35,090 | $60,990 | $57,700 |
| 101 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $51,850 | $44,450 | $55,520 | $56,880 |
| 102 | Omaha, NE-IA | $51,830 | $42,950 | $56,200 | $56,390 |
| 103 | Ithaca, NY | $51,650 | $39,080 | $57,820 | $49,990 |
| 104 | Terre Haute, IN | $51,540 | $38,360 | $58,030 | $58,700 |
| 105 | Visalia, CA | $51,540 | $41,640 | $56,430 | $51,630 |
| 106 | Waterloo, IA | $51,540 | $42,080 | $56,200 | $59,200 |
| 107 | Green Bay, WI | $51,500 | $38,360 | $57,990 | $55,330 |
| 108 | Utica, NY | $51,500 | $37,690 | $58,320 | $55,570 |
| 109 | Wildwood, FL | $51,380 | $39,790 | $57,080 | $60,150 |
| 110 | Mobile, AL | $51,360 | $41,640 | $56,160 | $58,300 |
| 111 | Pocatello, ID | $51,360 | $45,860 | $54,060 | $57,770 |
| 112 | Helena, MT | $51,290 | $39,560 | $57,100 | $53,610 |
| 113 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,210 | $39,790 | $56,830 | $55,020 |
| 114 | Nashville, TN | $51,110 | $34,510 | $59,280 | $53,050 |
| 115 | Auburn, AL | $50,980 | $41,450 | $55,680 | $57,980 |
| 116 | Springfield, MA | $50,960 | $38,460 | $57,100 | $53,050 |
| 117 | Gainesville, GA | $50,840 | $39,730 | $56,310 | $52,540 |
| 118 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $50,790 | $33,070 | $59,510 | $50,810 |
| 119 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $50,670 | $38,580 | $56,620 | $46,540 |
| 120 | Worcester, MA | $50,670 | $39,020 | $56,390 | $49,420 |
| 121 | Miami, FL | $50,630 | $36,500 | $57,570 | $44,350 |
| 122 | Buffalo, NY | $50,560 | $37,630 | $56,930 | $52,750 |
| 123 | Albany, NY | $50,460 | $40,910 | $55,160 | $50,680 |
| 124 | Watertown, NY | $50,420 | $39,750 | $55,700 | $57,500 |
| 125 | State College, PA | $50,360 | $40,250 | $55,350 | $52,050 |
| 126 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,170 | $37,650 | $56,350 | $55,490 |
| 127 | Palm Bay, FL | $50,020 | $39,480 | $55,200 | $50,020 |
| 128 | Pueblo, CO | $50,020 | $40,870 | $54,540 | $54,510 |
| 129 | Boise City, ID | $49,940 | $42,310 | $53,710 | $50,760 |
| 130 | Canton, OH | $49,880 | $36,750 | $56,330 | $55,790 |
| 131 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $49,840 | $38,630 | $55,370 | $52,260 |
| 132 | Tampa, FL | $49,840 | $40,440 | $54,450 | $49,400 |
| 133 | New Haven, CT | $49,670 | $35,510 | $56,660 | $47,500 |
| 134 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,520 | $34,340 | $56,990 | $47,930 |
| 135 | Orlando, FL | $49,460 | $40,210 | $54,020 | $48,770 |
| 136 | Atlantic City, NJ | $49,400 | $36,840 | $55,580 | $49,970 |
| 137 | Billings, MT | $49,360 | $43,040 | $52,460 | $52,780 |
| 138 | Ames, IA | $49,250 | $38,380 | $54,600 | $55,440 |
| 139 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $49,190 | $37,340 | $55,020 | $50,530 |
| 140 | Gulfport, MS | $49,190 | $39,370 | $54,040 | $54,650 |
| 141 | Dayton, OH | $49,150 | $35,260 | $55,990 | $53,020 |
| 142 | Birmingham, AL | $49,070 | $36,360 | $55,350 | $53,540 |
| 143 | North Port, FL | $49,030 | $40,100 | $53,410 | $47,870 |
| 144 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $48,980 | $37,250 | $54,770 | $48,870 |
| 145 | Monroe, MI | $48,960 | $38,730 | $54,020 | $52,370 |
| 146 | Baltimore, MD | $48,860 | $36,570 | $54,910 | $46,760 |
| 147 | Muskegon, MI | $48,800 | $31,240 | $57,450 | $52,750 |
| 148 | Jacksonville, FL | $48,710 | $37,190 | $54,370 | $48,960 |
| 149 | Ann Arbor, MI | $48,530 | $33,050 | $56,140 | $48,110 |
| 150 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $48,460 | $32,780 | $56,180 | $52,810 |
| 151 | Savannah, GA | $48,460 | $37,670 | $53,790 | $50,900 |
| 152 | Toledo, OH | $48,400 | $33,820 | $55,580 | $52,920 |
| 153 | Beaumont, TX | $48,340 | $38,600 | $53,120 | $53,680 |
| 154 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $48,340 | $35,210 | $54,790 | $49,360 |
| 155 | Atlanta, GA | $48,300 | $34,800 | $54,950 | $48,270 |
| 156 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $48,300 | $40,560 | $52,120 | $49,140 |
| 157 | Lancaster, PA | $48,240 | $32,240 | $56,120 | $49,100 |
| 158 | Portland, ME | $48,240 | $37,090 | $53,730 | $47,360 |
| 159 | Flint, MI | $48,210 | $33,200 | $55,620 | $51,820 |
| 160 | Austin, TX | $48,150 | $34,590 | $54,830 | $49,100 |
| 161 | Ocala, FL | $48,130 | $37,420 | $53,410 | $50,540 |
| 162 | Paducah, KY-IL | $48,130 | $40,460 | $51,920 | $55,910 |
| 163 | Daphne, AL | $48,030 | $40,040 | $51,940 | $50,720 |
| 164 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,030 | $33,200 | $55,330 | $50,730 |
| 165 | Santa Fe, NM | $48,030 | $42,290 | $50,840 | $48,630 |
| 166 | Richmond, VA | $47,760 | $31,260 | $55,870 | $48,810 |
| 167 | Anniston, AL | $47,720 | $35,880 | $53,540 | $55,520 |
| 168 | Springfield, MO | $47,670 | $33,680 | $54,560 | $53,810 |
| 169 | Naples, FL | $47,650 | $34,860 | $53,960 | $46,170 |
| 170 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $47,530 | $34,340 | $54,020 | $54,180 |
| 171 | Baton Rouge, LA | $47,470 | $35,150 | $53,520 | $52,290 |
| 172 | York, PA | $47,420 | $32,760 | $54,640 | $49,400 |
| 173 | San Antonio, TX | $47,400 | $36,750 | $52,620 | $50,040 |
| 174 | Redding, CA | $47,360 | $38,380 | $51,810 | $47,040 |
| 175 | Panama City, FL | $47,340 | $38,290 | $51,810 | $48,660 |
| 176 | Valdosta, GA | $47,300 | $32,590 | $54,560 | $53,580 |
| 177 | Punta Gorda, FL | $47,280 | $39,500 | $51,130 | $47,030 |
| 178 | Odessa, TX | $47,260 | $39,540 | $51,040 | $50,330 |
| 179 | Durham, NC | $47,220 | $36,800 | $52,350 | $48,400 |
| 180 | Waterbury, CT | $47,220 | $34,420 | $53,520 | $47,330 |
| 181 | Albany, GA | $47,090 | $34,820 | $53,140 | $53,710 |
| 182 | Champaign, IL | $47,030 | $33,920 | $53,480 | $50,730 |
| 183 | Manchester, NH | $46,740 | $37,650 | $51,230 | $44,240 |
| 184 | Lima, OH | $46,720 | $35,780 | $52,100 | $52,100 |
| 185 | Macon, GA | $46,630 | $32,470 | $53,600 | $52,670 |
| 186 | Pensacola, FL | $46,630 | $36,840 | $51,460 | $47,720 |
| 187 | Cape Coral, FL | $46,610 | $38,330 | $50,710 | $45,540 |
| 188 | Lynchburg, VA | $46,610 | $35,480 | $52,100 | $52,160 |
| 189 | Lincoln, NE | $46,590 | $37,110 | $51,270 | $50,870 |
| 190 | Tallahassee, FL | $46,530 | $37,560 | $50,960 | $49,540 |
| 191 | Akron, OH | $46,510 | $33,760 | $52,790 | $49,810 |
| 192 | Lakeland, FL | $46,510 | $36,400 | $51,480 | $47,880 |
| 193 | Wichita, KS | $46,510 | $33,400 | $52,940 | $52,290 |
| 194 | Joplin, MO-KS | $46,430 | $32,220 | $53,410 | $54,170 |
| 195 | Raleigh, NC | $46,400 | $34,240 | $52,420 | $47,270 |
| 196 | Albuquerque, NM | $46,300 | $37,750 | $50,520 | $48,460 |
| 197 | Scranton, PA | $46,280 | $32,300 | $53,140 | $49,470 |
| 198 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $46,180 | $38,080 | $50,150 | $47,000 |
| 199 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,090 | $33,050 | $52,540 | $49,800 |
| 200 | Syracuse, NY | $45,930 | $35,260 | $51,190 | $47,970 |
| 201 | Erie, PA | $45,840 | $32,990 | $52,170 | $50,400 |
| 202 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $45,780 | $30,870 | $53,100 | $50,340 |
| 203 | Crestview, FL | $45,680 | $34,990 | $50,940 | $47,080 |
| 204 | Fayetteville, NC | $45,660 | $34,990 | $50,920 | $49,640 |
| 205 | Dalton, GA | $45,610 | $32,910 | $51,850 | $50,770 |
| 206 | Knoxville, TN | $45,610 | $27,770 | $54,410 | $49,270 |
| 207 | Tucson, AZ | $45,530 | $31,970 | $52,210 | $46,990 |
| 208 | Dallas, TX | $45,430 | $31,200 | $52,440 | $44,070 |
| 209 | Athens, GA | $45,260 | $32,880 | $51,330 | $48,490 |
| 210 | Houston, TX | $45,260 | $32,550 | $51,500 | $45,890 |
| 211 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $45,160 | $35,090 | $50,130 | $52,240 |
| 212 | Jackson, TN | $45,010 | $26,350 | $54,200 | $52,630 |
| 213 | Youngstown, OH | $44,950 | $32,740 | $50,960 | $51,430 |
| 214 | Gainesville, FL | $44,740 | $35,860 | $49,110 | $46,250 |
| 215 | Greensboro, NC | $44,740 | $35,800 | $49,130 | $48,180 |
| 216 | Staunton, VA | $44,740 | $33,820 | $50,130 | $49,100 |
| 217 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,720 | $34,590 | $49,710 | $48,510 |
| 218 | Reading, PA | $44,620 | $31,910 | $50,880 | $45,970 |
| 219 | Sebring, FL | $44,550 | $35,190 | $49,170 | $48,180 |
| 220 | Lexington, KY | $44,370 | $32,910 | $50,000 | $47,770 |
| 221 | Sumter, SC | $44,350 | $30,240 | $51,290 | $50,390 |
| 222 | Bridgeport, CT | $44,160 | $36,480 | $47,940 | $41,320 |
| 223 | Amarillo, TX | $44,080 | $38,880 | $46,630 | $48,010 |
| 224 | Decatur, AL | $44,080 | $32,860 | $49,610 | $50,540 |
| 225 | Charleston, SC | $44,050 | $34,070 | $48,980 | $43,630 |
| 226 | Deltona, FL | $44,050 | $33,590 | $49,210 | $44,330 |
| 227 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $44,050 | $31,240 | $50,380 | $44,940 |
| 228 | Winchester, VA-WV | $44,010 | $31,320 | $50,270 | $45,630 |
| 229 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $43,990 | $33,990 | $48,920 | $46,750 |
| 230 | Charlottesville, VA | $43,830 | $32,880 | $49,190 | $44,210 |
| 231 | Greenville, NC | $43,720 | $31,320 | $49,820 | $49,460 |
| 232 | New Orleans, LA | $43,720 | $32,410 | $49,280 | $47,220 |
| 233 | Elizabethtown, KY | $43,680 | $33,920 | $48,460 | $48,230 |
| 234 | Hartford, CT | $43,620 | $34,840 | $47,920 | $42,450 |
| 235 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $43,560 | $32,840 | $48,820 | $46,600 |
| 236 | Tulsa, OK | $43,560 | $35,010 | $47,760 | $48,830 |
| 237 | Lake Charles, LA | $43,450 | $28,770 | $50,690 | $50,610 |
| 238 | Burlington, NC | $43,370 | $34,050 | $47,960 | $46,540 |
| 239 | Norwich, CT | $43,240 | $34,900 | $47,360 | $43,050 |
| 240 | Harrisonburg, VA | $43,180 | $31,800 | $48,780 | $45,500 |
| 241 | College Station, TX | $43,140 | $31,050 | $49,110 | $47,430 |
| 242 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $43,100 | $34,150 | $47,530 | $45,770 |
| 243 | Asheville, NC | $43,010 | $32,530 | $48,170 | $44,570 |
| 244 | Wilmington, NC | $42,990 | $31,370 | $48,730 | $44,590 |
| 245 | Roanoke, VA | $42,870 | $31,410 | $48,530 | $45,790 |
| 246 | Sherman, TX | $42,870 | $30,680 | $48,880 | $45,720 |
| 247 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $42,760 | $29,990 | $49,070 | $49,460 |
| 248 | Lewiston, ME | $42,680 | $35,050 | $46,430 | $45,050 |
| 249 | Corpus Christi, TX | $42,660 | $27,410 | $50,150 | $46,030 |
| 250 | Bangor, ME | $42,350 | $34,920 | $45,990 | $43,880 |
| 251 | Slidell, LA | $42,310 | $34,490 | $46,160 | $45,630 |
| 252 | Little Rock, AR | $42,240 | $30,240 | $48,170 | $47,270 |
| 253 | Lafayette, LA | $42,060 | $30,640 | $47,670 | $48,230 |
| 254 | Fayetteville, AR | $42,020 | $30,930 | $47,470 | $46,000 |
| 255 | Las Cruces, NM | $42,020 | $30,080 | $47,900 | $46,580 |
| 256 | Shreveport, LA | $41,890 | $31,010 | $47,260 | $49,420 |
| 257 | Augusta, GA-SC | $41,830 | $27,000 | $49,150 | $45,520 |
| 258 | Jackson, MS | $41,830 | $30,990 | $47,170 | $46,970 |
| 259 | Winston, NC | $41,770 | $28,720 | $48,190 | $45,380 |
| 260 | Dothan, AL | $41,720 | $31,840 | $46,590 | $49,770 |
| 261 | Victoria, TX | $41,580 | $31,300 | $46,630 | $46,280 |
| 262 | Bowling Green, KY | $41,080 | $30,680 | $46,200 | $45,550 |
| 263 | Killeen, TX | $41,080 | $33,090 | $45,030 | $45,080 |
| 264 | Hammond, LA | $40,790 | $31,320 | $45,450 | $48,300 |
| 265 | Monroe, LA | $40,730 | $28,310 | $46,840 | $48,720 |
| 266 | Brownsville, TX | $40,640 | $32,530 | $44,640 | $47,270 |
| 267 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $40,640 | $30,870 | $45,470 | $44,430 |
| 268 | Tyler, TX | $40,640 | $28,450 | $46,630 | $44,100 |
| 269 | Lawton, OK | $40,310 | $31,550 | $44,640 | $46,900 |
| 270 | Topeka, KS | $40,140 | $27,480 | $46,380 | $45,190 |
| 271 | Florence, AL | $40,060 | $34,740 | $42,700 | $47,230 |
| 272 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $39,440 | $29,830 | $44,180 | $45,920 |
| 273 | Cleveland, TN | $39,420 | $23,250 | $47,360 | $44,750 |
| 274 | Weirton, WV-OH | $39,350 | $31,910 | $43,010 | $44,200 |
| 275 | Parkersburg, WV | $39,150 | $31,820 | $42,760 | $44,970 |
| 276 | Springfield, OH | $39,120 | $31,910 | $42,660 | $43,240 |
| 277 | Columbus, GA-AL | $39,000 | $31,990 | $42,450 | $43,670 |
| 278 | Hattiesburg, MS | $39,000 | $29,470 | $43,700 | $44,500 |
| 279 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $38,880 | $28,500 | $43,990 | $46,280 |
| 280 | El Paso, TX | $38,810 | $34,110 | $41,140 | $43,160 |
| 281 | Morristown, TN | $38,710 | $26,830 | $44,550 | $44,820 |
| 282 | Altoona, PA | $38,580 | $29,160 | $43,220 | $43,100 |
| 283 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,520 | $26,170 | $44,620 | $42,310 |
| 284 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $38,400 | $32,390 | $41,350 | $43,030 |
| 285 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $37,960 | $28,620 | $42,560 | $42,930 |
| 286 | Jonesboro, AR | $37,860 | $27,890 | $42,760 | $44,090 |
| 287 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $37,770 | $29,600 | $41,790 | $42,760 |
| 288 | Jacksonville, NC | $37,690 | $31,490 | $40,750 | $40,930 |
| 289 | Blacksburg, VA | $37,460 | $29,020 | $41,620 | $40,410 |
| 290 | Montgomery, AL | $37,460 | $28,500 | $41,890 | $41,770 |
| 291 | Hickory, NC | $37,400 | $23,630 | $44,180 | $42,270 |
| 292 | Charleston, WV | $37,250 | $28,640 | $41,480 | $41,990 |
| 293 | Lubbock, TX | $37,250 | $25,210 | $43,180 | $40,790 |
| 294 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $37,230 | $31,800 | $39,920 | $39,760 |
| 295 | Greenville, SC | $36,960 | $30,080 | $40,350 | $39,630 |
| 296 | Alexandria, LA | $36,900 | $25,790 | $42,390 | $43,060 |
| 297 | Pinehurst, NC | $36,820 | $28,160 | $41,080 | $41,680 |
| 298 | Beckley, WV | $36,610 | $24,880 | $42,390 | $41,430 |
| 299 | Columbia, SC | $34,670 | $24,320 | $39,790 | $37,020 |
| 300 | McAllen, TX | $34,490 | $25,420 | $38,960 | $40,150 |
| 301 | Rocky Mount, NC | $34,470 | $24,400 | $39,440 | $39,170 |
| 302 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $34,440 | $28,410 | $37,400 | $38,000 |
| 303 | Eagle Pass, TX | $34,240 | $24,150 | $39,210 | $40,860 |
| 304 | Rapid City, SD | $33,470 | $26,790 | $36,750 | $37,540 |
| 305 | Hot Springs, AR | $33,380 | $27,250 | $36,420 | $38,940 |
| 306 | Johnson City, TN | $32,660 | $24,560 | $36,650 | $37,140 |
| 307 | Florence, SC | $32,470 | $23,630 | $36,820 | $37,420 |
| 308 | Ponce, PR | $23,420 | $21,840 | $24,190 | N/A |
| 309 | San Juan, PR | $23,000 | $21,840 | $23,590 | N/A |
| 310 | Arecibo, PR | $22,590 | $21,840 | $22,940 | N/A |
| 311 | Mayaguez, PR | $22,260 | $21,840 | $22,460 | N/A |
More
More on garbage collectors
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Garbage Collector salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays garbage collectors the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $88,030 a year, followed by Seattle, WA ($76,420), San Francisco, CA ($76,000), Chicago, IL-IN ($71,570). The national mean is $52,820 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do garbage collectors earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($79,720 at national prices, $88,030 nominal), Davenport, IA-IL ($74,890 at national prices, $66,710 nominal), Chicago, IL-IN ($69,090 at national prices, $71,570 nominal).
How much do garbage collectors make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $66,040; Los Angeles, CA: $61,710; Chicago, IL-IN: $71,570; Dallas, TX: $45,430; Houston, TX: $45,260 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do garbage collectors earn the least?
Of the 311 metro areas with their own estimate, Mayaguez, PR has the lowest mean wage, $22,260.