Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $57,650 a year ($27.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,410 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $49,690. Pay here is 33% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $43,270. There are 0.47 refuse and recyclable material collectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $51,110, close to the median.
Pay range for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| 25th percentile | $41,870 | $20.13 |
| Median | $57,650 | $27.71 |
| 75th percentile | $61,680 | $29.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,410 | $30.97 |
| Average (mean) | $51,110 | $24.57 |
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 | $4,804.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,402.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,217.31 |
| Weekly | $1,108.65 |
| Hourly | $27.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,650 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $51,030 | 350 |
| Jackson, TN | $50,050 | 100 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $49,670 | 70 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,470 | 890 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,450 | 90 |
| Morristown, TN | $38,020 | 100 |
| Cleveland, TN | $37,540 | 40 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,090 | 80 |
| Johnson City, TN | $28,880 | 60 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,790 | $19.13 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,760 | $17.68 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,200 | $18.84 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $35,390 | $17.02 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $54,040 | $25.98 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $43,190 | $20.76 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $57,650 a year, or $27.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of refuse and recyclable material collectors in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $64,410 a year. The top 25% earn $61,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,390 a year, and a quarter of refuse and recyclable material collectors earn $41,870 or less.
How many refuse and recyclable material collectors work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 520 refuse and recyclable material collectors are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.