Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $47,930 -0.9% vs national
Median hourly $23.04
10th percentile $33,400
90th percentile $59,910
Employed locally 240
National median $48,350

Compare Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Buffalo, NY stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
in
Buffalo, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,400
    25th
    $37,600
    50th (median)
    $47,930
    75th
    $56,170
    90th
    $59,910

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary vs area income 68% Median Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary is 32% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $77,300
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $76,760
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $74,240
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $73,770
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $73,110
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $72,380

    Nearby metros — Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $76,760
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $63,670
    Albany, OR $58,890
    Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $51,490
    Rochester, NY $50,810
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $50,360

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Stockers and Order Fillers $37,360
    Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $41,270
    Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,380
    Light Truck Drivers $43,990
    Bus Drivers, School $51,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $60,110

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Buffalo, NY is $23.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.14 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries?

    The median Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Buffalo, NY is 0.9% below the national median of $48,350. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (10th percentile) earn around $33,400 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,600.