Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in Portland, OR-WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Median annual salary $63,560 +31.5% vs national
Median hourly $30.56
10th percentile $48,720
90th percentile $72,690
Employed locally 1,260
National median $48,350

Compare Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Portland, OR-WA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
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Portland, OR-WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,720
    25th
    $61,160
    50th (median)
    $63,560
    75th
    $67,460
    90th
    $72,690

    Portland economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $94,573 2023 • Census ACS
    Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary vs area income 67% Median Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary is 33% 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
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $74,240
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $73,770
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $65,270
    New York $64,550
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $63,670
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $61,860

    Related occupations in Portland, OR-WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Stockers and Order Fillers $43,190
    Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $45,550
    Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $63,500
    Light Truck Drivers $46,620
    First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $63,980
    Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $51,470

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Portland, OR-WA is $30.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.69 or more per hour.

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

    The median Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Portland, OR-WA is 31.5% above 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 Portland?

    Entry-level Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (10th percentile) earn around $48,720 per year in Portland, OR-WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,160.