Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area earn a median of $39,670 a year ($19.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,320 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $49,690. Pay here is 14% lower than the Texas statewide median of $46,330. There are 0.52 refuse and recyclable material collectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $40,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,710 | $14.77 |
| 25th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Median | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| 75th percentile | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Average (mean) | $40,650 | $19.54 |
Half of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,305.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,652.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,525.77 |
| Weekly | $762.88 |
| Hourly | $19.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,670 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $56,660 | 80 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $50,040 | 1,060 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $49,560 | 1,410 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $48,940 | 250 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $48,650 | 250 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $48,030 | 70 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,960 | 4,300 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,320 | 2,310 |
| Odessa, TX | $46,180 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $45,820 | 110 |
| Tyler, TX | $44,380 | 220 |
| Amarillo, TX | $43,840 | 120 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $40,830 | 130 |
| Victoria, TX | $39,860 | 30 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,890 | 30 |
| El Paso, TX | $36,850 | 320 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $35,710 | 40 |
| Lubbock, TX | $32,510 | 70 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,140 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for refuse and recyclable material collectors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $75,050 |
| Washington | $74,620 |
| New York | $64,950 |
| California | $64,890 |
| Oregon | $63,210 |
| Minnesota | $62,570 |
| Nevada | $61,310 |
| Delaware | $61,290 |
| Colorado | $60,310 |
| Wisconsin | $59,810 |
See Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $32,300 | $15.53 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $24,090 | $11.58 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $26,420 | $12.70 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $54,060 | $25.99 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| Light Truck Driver | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $30,890 | $14.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $50,170 | $24.12 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $65,940 | $31.70 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
The median salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area is $39,670 a year, or $19.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
The top 10% of refuse and recyclable material collectors in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area earn at least $48,320 a year. The top 25% earn $48,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,710 a year, and a quarter of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn $36,400 or less.
How many refuse and recyclable material collectors work in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
About 80 refuse and recyclable material collectors are employed in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.