Refuse and salvage occupations roles in the UK earn a median of £27,000 per year, equivalent to £13.51 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 5.6% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £25,000 in East Midlands to £29,000 in Scotland. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £27,857/yr (3% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£27,000
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£13.51
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+5.6%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£23,500 – £30,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Refuse and salvage occupations across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| Scotland | £29,000 |
| Wales | £29,000 |
| West Midlands | £28,500 |
| South West | £27,500 |
| London | £27,000 |
| North West | £27,000 |
| North East | £26,500 |
| South East | £26,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £26,000 |
| East | £25,500 |
| East Midlands | £25,000 |
| UK | £27,000 |
Annual pay grew by +5.6% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Refuse and salvage occupations.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Refuse and salvage occupations in the UK is £27,000 per year (about £13.51 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Refuse and salvage occupations earn between £23,500 and £30,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Refuse and salvage occupations pay rose by 5.6% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Refuse and salvage occupations is in Scotland, at £29,000 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Refuse and salvage occupations roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Refuse and salvage collectors supervise and undertake the collection and processing of refuse from household, commercial and industrial premises.
No academic qualifications are required. Training is provided on-the-job. A minimum age limit of 18 years normally applies.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.