Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the recyclable material merchant wholesalers industry earns $67,685 per year ($32.54/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$67,685
Avg Annual Pay
101,035
Total Employees
8,039
Total Establishments
13
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers Workers Earn?

At $67,685/year (equivalent to $32.54/hour for a full-time worker), recyclable material merchant wholesalers wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.

The typical recyclable material merchant wholesalers business employs 13 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

11.4%

For the average recyclable material merchant wholesalers business generating $7.7M/year with 13 employees at $67,685 each, total payroll represents roughly 11.4% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a recyclable material merchant wholesalersbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $87,991/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 13 employees = ~$879,905/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $32.54/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $7.7M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do recyclable material merchant wholesalers employees make?
The average recyclable material merchant wholesalers employee earns $67,685 per year, which is equivalent to $32.54/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the recyclable material merchant wholesalers industry?
The recyclable material merchant wholesalers industry employs 101,035 workers across 8,039 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 13 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).