Recycling and Reclamation Workers Salary by State
The national median pay for recycling and reclamation workers is $40,240 a year. By state, it ranges from $35,340 in Louisiana to $46,280 in Minnesota. These figures are for the broader BLS group “Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand”.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $31,270
- 25th percentile
- $36,090
- Median
- $40,240
- 75th percentile
- $46,920
- Top 10%
- $55,140
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job (broader BLS group “Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand”). About 2,950,280 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $46,280 | +15% | $35,750 | $61,140 | 54,480 |
| 2 | Washington | $46,190 | +15% | $37,350 | $60,280 | 49,450 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $45,740 | +14% | $37,550 | $62,390 | 1,200 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $45,690 | +14% | $34,940 | $59,020 | 9,990 |
| 5 | Colorado | $45,370 | +13% | $36,730 | $57,180 | 31,140 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $44,920 | +12% | $36,470 | $58,270 | 34,700 |
| 7 | Oregon | $44,750 | +11% | $34,820 | $58,010 | 27,720 |
| 8 | California | $44,710 | +11% | $36,060 | $57,700 | 355,500 |
| 9 | New York | $44,630 | +11% | $35,360 | $59,330 | 100,950 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $44,610 | +11% | $33,260 | $57,360 | 70,520 |
| 11 | Alaska | $44,510 | +11% | $34,790 | $75,280 | 4,250 |
| 12 | Arizona | $44,290 | +10% | $34,620 | $57,810 | 71,090 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $44,120 | +10% | $34,090 | $61,110 | 9,490 |
| 14 | Montana | $43,840 | +9% | $32,400 | $53,160 | 3,870 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $43,640 | +8% | $35,440 | $54,490 | 23,970 |
| 16 | Iowa | $43,490 | +8% | $32,790 | $53,620 | 30,890 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $42,910 | +7% | $33,320 | $53,160 | 13,870 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $42,770 | +6% | $30,890 | $49,750 | 57,930 |
| 19 | Maine | $42,640 | +6% | $32,550 | $55,230 | 6,120 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $42,480 | +6% | $32,240 | $56,280 | 131,050 |
| 21 | Utah | $42,370 | +5% | $33,360 | $54,790 | 29,670 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $42,110 | +5% | $33,960 | $53,560 | 8,340 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $41,690 | +4% | $31,700 | $58,690 | 6,760 |
| 24 | Maryland | $41,600 | +3% | $34,280 | $55,710 | 47,710 |
| 25 | Indiana | $41,340 | +3% | $31,040 | $52,590 | 103,200 |
| 26 | Illinois | $40,550 | +1% | $31,780 | $55,840 | 195,390 |
| 27 | Kansas | $40,250 | 0% | $30,830 | $51,030 | 23,270 |
| 28 | Idaho | $39,900 | −1% | $29,550 | $49,250 | 15,610 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $39,540 | −2% | $33,350 | $55,940 | 97,230 |
| 30 | Ohio | $39,460 | −2% | $30,650 | $50,760 | 108,830 |
| 31 | Vermont | $39,390 | −2% | $30,350 | $49,170 | 3,060 |
| 32 | Virginia | $39,380 | −2% | $31,050 | $53,700 | 58,000 |
| 33 | Nevada | $39,350 | −2% | $33,380 | $56,690 | 40,850 |
| 34 | Missouri | $39,080 | −3% | $30,380 | $52,520 | 43,050 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $38,980 | −3% | $31,340 | $50,420 | 3,820 |
| 36 | Michigan | $38,860 | −3% | $30,220 | $52,080 | 79,410 |
| 37 | Georgia | $38,480 | −4% | $30,100 | $50,770 | 137,580 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $38,330 | −5% | $31,130 | $53,270 | 2,700 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $38,230 | −5% | $30,010 | $47,590 | 116,720 |
| 40 | Florida | $38,160 | −5% | $29,960 | $48,870 | 164,400 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $38,160 | −5% | $30,230 | $48,420 | 105,870 |
| 42 | Texas | $37,540 | −7% | $29,250 | $50,140 | 216,970 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $37,530 | −7% | $29,830 | $48,230 | 56,700 |
| 44 | Delaware | $37,320 | −7% | $31,200 | $47,920 | 5,220 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $37,230 | −7% | $28,510 | $50,620 | 10,200 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $36,990 | −8% | $28,840 | $47,600 | 38,210 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $36,990 | −8% | $27,270 | $50,240 | 11,300 |
| 48 | Alabama | $36,670 | −9% | $26,850 | $47,910 | 36,140 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $36,400 | −10% | $27,740 | $47,280 | 30,750 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $35,920 | −11% | $28,090 | $45,920 | 21,430 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $35,340 | −12% | $24,150 | $46,890 | 43,730 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates for the broader group “Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand”. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Recycling and Reclamation Workers salary questions
Which state pays recycling and reclamation workers the most?
Minnesota, with a median of $46,280 a year (+15% vs. the national median of $40,240). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays recycling and reclamation workers the least?
Louisiana, with a median of $35,340 a year (−12% vs. national).
Where do most recycling and reclamation workers work?
California has the most jobs, about 355,500, with a median of $44,710.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.