Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,470 or more. The middle half of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Bowling Green earn between $34,380 and $48,870.
- $30K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $49K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,080 | $3,423 | $19.75 |
| Median | $36,810 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,380 | $2,865 | $16.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,870 | $4,072 | $23.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in Bowling Green earn 4% less than the Kentucky average ($42,710) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($52,820). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $49,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $41,080 | $36,810 | $29,930 | $52,470 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $42,710 | $43,100 | $29,610 | $56,170 | 1,580 |
| United States | $52,820 | $49,690 | $33,590 | $75,900 | 147,240 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary after taxes in Bowling Green
On the average salary of $41,080, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $33,046 a year, or $2,754 a month and $1,271 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for refuse and recyclable material collectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $41,080 buys what about $45,554 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 5th of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($51,200).
- Louisville$51,200
- Paducah$48,130
- Lexington$44,360
- Elizabethtown$43,670
- Bowling Green$41,080
All Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salaries in Kentucky
Highest-paying cities for refuse and recyclable material collectors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($88,030).
- San Jose, CA$88,030
- Seattle, WA$76,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,010
- Chicago, IL$71,570
- Santa Rosa, CA$70,560
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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary in Bowling Green: questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make an hour in Bowling Green?
$19.75 an hour on average, and $17.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the refuse and recyclable material collectors take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $33,046 a year ($2,754 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,080. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($52,820).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-7081; area Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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