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Recycling center operator salary
Average recycling center operator salary
$16.71
Understanding the Recycling Center Operator Salary
As of October 2025, the average Recycling Center Operator earns approximately $34,758 per year, which translates to around $17 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, operators in urban areas often command higher wages due to the increased demand for recycling services.
Average Salary by State
The salary for Recycling Center Operators also differs significantly across states. For example, operators in states like California and New York tend to earn more than their counterparts in less populated regions. Understanding these geographical pay disparities can help job seekers make informed career decisions.
Opportunities for Advancement
As the emphasis on sustainability grows, so does the need for skilled Recycling Center Operators. Many facilities offer training programs that can lead to advancement opportunities within the organization. By gaining additional certifications or expanding skillsets, operators can enhance their earning potential and job prospects.
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Where can a Recycling Center Operator earn more?
Average recycling center operator salary by state
The average recycling center operator salary in Washington, Alaska, and Idaho are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average recycling center operator salary states are Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for recycling center operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $45,616 | $21.93 |
| 2 | Alaska | $46,199 | $22.21 |
| 3 | Maine | $42,196 | $20.29 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $40,889 | $19.66 |
| 5 | Indiana | $41,633 | $20.02 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $43,753 | $21.04 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $40,741 | $19.59 |
| 8 | Ohio | $40,527 | $19.48 |
| 9 | Nevada | $41,965 | $20.18 |
| 10 | Arizona | $41,293 | $19.85 |
| 11 | Washington | $46,676 | $22.44 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $40,725 | $19.58 |
| 13 | Utah | $42,388 | $20.38 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $38,198 | $18.36 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $43,109 | $20.73 |
| 16 | Montana | $44,639 | $21.46 |
| 17 | Missouri | $39,127 | $18.81 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $44,685 | $21.48 |
| 19 | Delaware | $39,963 | $19.21 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $40,880 | $19.65 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $40,988 | $19.71 |
| 22 | California | $42,085 | $20.23 |
| 23 | Colorado | $40,885 | $19.66 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $40,783 | $19.61 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $39,037 | $18.77 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $39,198 | $18.85 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $35,265 | $16.95 |
| 28 | Vermont | $41,079 | $19.75 |
| 29 | Kansas | $35,532 | $17.08 |
| 30 | Illinois | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| 31 | Michigan | $35,999 | $17.31 |
| 32 | New York | $40,203 | $19.33 |
| 33 | Maryland | $39,562 | $19.02 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $36,135 | $17.37 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $33,819 | $16.26 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $34,674 | $16.67 |
| 37 | Iowa | $37,425 | $17.99 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $34,460 | $16.57 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $33,537 | $16.12 |
| 40 | Oregon | $36,852 | $17.72 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $34,931 | $16.79 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $31,463 | $15.13 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $35,306 | $16.97 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $31,181 | $14.99 |
| 45 | Virginia | $32,695 | $15.72 |
| 46 | Texas | $30,967 | $14.89 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $31,026 | $14.92 |
| 48 | Alabama | $28,954 | $13.92 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $31,564 | $15.18 |
| 50 | Georgia | $29,714 | $14.29 |
| 51 | Florida | $26,631 | $12.80 |
Highest paying cities for recycling center operators
The highest-paying cities for recycling center operators are San Francisco, CA, Madison, WI, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $43,983 | $21.15 |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $43,657 | $20.99 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $41,664 | $20.03 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,491 | $19.95 |
| 5 | Stamford, CT | $41,064 | $19.74 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $40,702 | $19.57 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $40,188 | $19.32 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $39,705 | $19.09 |
| 9 | Schaumburg, IL | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| 10 | Bowling Green, KY | $37,351 | $17.96 |
| 11 | Coon Rapids, MN | $36,238 | $17.42 |
| 12 | New Brunswick, NJ | $34,512 | $16.59 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $32,568 | $15.66 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $31,418 | $15.10 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $30,806 | $14.81 |
| 16 | LaGrange, GA | $29,655 | $14.26 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $27,376 | $13.16 |
Recycling center operator salary details
A recycling center operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a recycling center operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $34,758 | $2,897 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying recycling center operator jobs
The highest paying types of recycling center operators are recycle coordinator, console operator, and recycling director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Console Operator | $43,202 | $3,600 | $20.77 | 30,104 |
| Call Center Operator | $31,022 | $2,585 | $14.91 | 215,083 |
Top companies hiring recycling center operators now:
Which companies pay recycling center operators the most?
Recycling center operator salaries at Alere and Abbott are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average recycling center operator salary at companies like Nation Pizza and Fruit of the Loom are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alere | $46,753 | $22.48 |
| 2 | Abbott | $44,980 | $21.63 |
| 3 | Nation Pizza | $43,854 | $21.08 |
| 4 | Fruit of the Loom | $43,477 | $20.90 |
| 5 | Irvine Ranch Water District | $39,868 | $19.17 |
| 6 | Novelis | $39,475 | $18.98 |
| 7 | Basin | $39,257 | $18.87 |
| 8 | Waste Pro | $38,841 | $18.67 |
| 9 | Gannett Fleming | $38,577 | $18.55 |
| 10 | Florida Crystals | $37,087 | $17.83 |
| 11 | Waste Connections | $36,808 | $17.70 |
| 12 | Minnesota Limited | $36,661 | $17.63 |
| 13 | Zachry Construction | $35,975 | $17.30 |
| 14 | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan | $35,330 | $16.99 |
| 15 | Hakkasan Group | $34,780 | $16.72 |
| 16 | MSG Entertainment | $34,554 | $16.61 |
| 17 | Travis County | $33,603 | $16.16 |
| 18 | Publix | $32,702 | $15.72 |
| 19 | G4S | $32,655 | $15.70 |
| 20 | ASR Group | $32,410 | $15.58 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Recycling center operator salary trends
The average recycling center operator salary has risen by $3,499 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average recycling center operator earned $31,259 annually, but today, they earn $34,758 a year. That works out to a 5% change in pay for recycling center operators over the last decade.
Compare recycling center operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average recycling center operator salary over time
Compare recycling center operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Recycling center operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,800 | $16.71 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | $34,900 | $16.77 | -0.8% |
| 2023 | $35,200 | $16.90 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $34,000 | $16.36 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $33,100 | $15.92 | +0.6% |
Recently added recycling center operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Security Operations Center Operator | Chesapeake, VA | 05/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Security Operations Center Operator | New Castle, DE | 05/26/2025 | $39,653 |
| Allied Universal | Security Operations Center Operator | Dearborn, MI | 05/23/2025 | $38,776 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Security Operations Center Operator (Gsoc) | Omaha, NE | 05/14/2025 | $47,792 |
| Gardaworld | Security Operations Center Operator | San Jose, CA | 05/10/2025 | $58,436 |
| City of Indianola | Aquatic Center-Operations Staff-Seasonal | Indianola, IA | 05/02/2025 | $23,479 |
| Allied Universal | Security Professional-Security Operations Center Operator | San Diego, CA | 04/11/2025 | $59,480 |
| Scout Clean Energy | ROC Operator-Remote Operations Center (ROC) | Boulder, CO | 03/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| CVS Health | Spvr, Center Operations | Burton, MI | 03/22/2025 | $43,888 |
| IO Global | Security Operations Center Operator | Longmont, CO | 03/22/2025 | $80,000 |
Recycling center operator salary FAQs
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