The median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $64,530 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $65,950.
Pay spans roughly $38,360 at the 10th percentile to $87,070 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $31.03 per hour. An estimated 3,560 people work as refuse and recyclable material collectors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $64,530 |
| Mean (annual) | $65,950 |
| Median (hourly) | $31.03 |
| 10th percentile | $38,360 |
| 90th percentile | $87,070 |
| Employment | 3,560 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.