Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 12,700 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
12,700
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
12.7
workers
Location Quotient
4.78
vs national avg
Average Salary
$60K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 4.78 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
12,700
National: 135,440
9.4% of national
Jobs per 1,000
12.7
National: 2.66
+377.4%
Average Salary
$60K
National: $46K
+32.3%

Top States by Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Employment

#1
12,700
12,700
employed
#2
10,800
10,800
employed
#3
10,590
10,590
employed
#4
6,950
6,950
employed
#5
6,220
6,220
employed
#6
6,150
6,150
employed
#7
5,290
5,290
employed
#8
5,040
5,040
employed
#9
4,990
4,990
employed
#10
4,320
4,320
employed

What Does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California is $60,920. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 12,700 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors jobs (LQ: 4.78). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California?

The average (mean) salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California is $60920/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors professionals?

The top state for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors employment is California with 12,700 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (SOC 537081) in California.

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Rankings
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