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Garbage man: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$49,690median pay per year, or $23.89 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,590lowest 10% earn less
  2. $39,08025th percentile
  3. $49,690median
  4. $62,02075th percentile
  5. $75,900top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A garbage man, officially a refuse and recyclable material collector, had a median pay of $49,690 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2.1% over the decade[2], and no formal education is needed to start[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.1%[2]
Openings per year
15,500[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[3]

How much do garbage men make?

The median wage for refuse and recyclable material collectors was $49,690 a year, or $23.89 an hour[1]. Half of the workers made more than that and half made less[1]. The average was $52,820 a year, or $25.39 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year, so this job sits a little below it[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,590 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $75,900[4]. Per hour, those two boundaries were $16.15 and $36.49[8]. The middle half of workers fell between $39,080 and $62,020 a year[4].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][8] $33,590 $16.15
25th percentile[4][8] $39,080 $18.79
Median[1] $49,690 $23.89
75th percentile[4][8] $62,020 $29.82
90th percentile[4][8] $75,900 $36.49

A percentile is a boundary line, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. These wages cover full-time and part-time wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Pay depends a lot on where you work. Illinois had the highest median at $75,050 a year, followed by Washington at $74,620 and New York at $64,950[11]. South Dakota had the lowest listed median at $32,950[11].

The most jobs were in California (13,930), Texas (12,860), Florida (11,650), New York (11,630) and North Carolina (7,250)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the top median at $87,430, then San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $77,570 and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $77,470[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 13,310, with a median of $65,310[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Illinois[11]$75,0504,910
Washington$74,6203,750
New York$64,95011,630
California$64,89013,930
Oregon$63,2102,500
Minnesota$62,5702,500
Nevada$61,310770
Delaware$61,290600
Colorado$60,3103,700
Wisconsin$59,8101,550
Utah$59,310960
North Dakota$59,000360
Indiana$58,9003,180
Hawaii$56,270770
Rhode Island$55,970470
District of Columbia$55,490540
New Jersey$54,6304,330
Vermont$51,960160
Michigan$51,0304,020
Massachusetts$50,3101,010
Missouri$50,0101,930
Idaho$49,880730
Iowa$49,8501,780
Montana$49,420370
Nebraska$49,390910
Ohio$49,3304,710
Wyoming$48,820280
Pennsylvania$48,2406,220
Florida$47,82011,650
New Mexico$47,6601,070
Georgia$46,9604,830
Arizona$46,9102,380
New Hampshire$46,580340
Virginia$46,5304,330
Texas$46,33012,860
Alabama$46,2402,790
Alaska$45,740250
Kansas$45,510910
North Carolina$44,6707,250
Maine$43,360770
Tennessee$43,2702,550
Kentucky$43,1001,580
Oklahoma$43,0602,030
Maryland$41,8703,120
Mississippi$39,1701,970
Louisiana$38,8102,200
Connecticut$38,220810
West Virginia$35,8401,000
Arkansas$35,6401,600
South Carolina$34,8802,020
South Dakota$32,950340

How to become a garbage man

The entry path is short.

Some collectors need a commercial driver's license (CDL). The handbook says this applies to those who drive trucks above a certain size, and getting one means passing written, skill and vision tests[18]. State licensing details are on CareerOneStop[19].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 81% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 11% said a 2-year degree and 6% said a post-secondary certificate[20].

What garbage men do

The job is to collect refuse or recyclables from containers and put them in a truck, and some workers also drive[21]. Typical tasks include:

Workers use titles such as refuse collector, recycle driver, sanitation laborer and swamper[23].

Where they work

The handbook text covers a wider group, so it describes hand laborers and material movers in general[15]. That group works in places like warehouses and manufacturing plants, and the work is usually repetitive and physically demanding[24]. Most work full time, part-time work is common, and schedules can include nights and weekends[25].

The handbook says refuse and recyclable material collectors are among the occupations with the highest injury and illness rates. Sprains, strains and overexertion are examples[26]. It also lists physical stamina as an important quality[27].

Job outlook

Employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 156,400 to 159,600 jobs[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[28]. So this job is expected to grow more slowly than average.

BLS projects about 15,500 openings a year[6]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new positions[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 6.1% move to a different occupation[29].

The projection counts include self-employed workers, who were 3.8% of the total in 2025[2][30]. The wage survey counted about 147,240 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[31]. The two counts measure different things.

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with a low barrier to entry. It needs no formal education and only short-term training[3]. Pay is close to the all-occupation median, and it varies a lot by state[5][11]. The handbook flags high injury and illness rates and physically demanding work[24][26]. Growth is slower than average, but openings come up each year as people leave[28][6]. Whether it suits you depends on how you weigh pay, physical demands and local wages.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a garbage man make an hour?
The median was $23.89 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $16.15 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $36.49[8].
Do you need a degree to be a garbage man?
No formal educational credential is typically needed[3].
How long does training take?
Typical training is short-term on-the-job training[3]. The handbook profile for the wider group says 1 month or less[15][16].
Is a garbage man job in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2.1%, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][28]. About 15,500 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for garbage men?
Illinois had the highest median at $75,050 a year, ahead of Washington at $74,620[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the US was $49,690 per year and $23.89 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 156,400 to 159,600 jobs (a change of +3,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors: 10th percentile $33,590, 25th percentile $39,080, 75th percentile $62,020, 90th percentile $75,900. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 15,500 openings for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors was $52,820 per year and $25.39 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors: 10th percentile $16.15, 25th percentile $18.79, 75th percentile $29.82, 90th percentile $36.49. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors jobs: California 13,930; Texas 12,860; Florida 11,650; New York 11,630; North Carolina 7,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $87,430; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $77,570; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $77,470; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $76,340; Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $75,440; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $75,090; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $73,110; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $69,300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 13,310 (median $65,310); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,300 (median $47,960); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,210 (median $62,490); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,370 (median $49,770); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,330 (median $77,470); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,100 (median $46,530). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Hand Laborers and Material Movers" covers Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 53-7081.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 81%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 11%, Post-Secondary Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET description of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 53-7081.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Front Load Trash Truck Driver, Garbage Man, Recycle Driver, Refuse Collector, Roll Off Container Truck Driver, Roll Off Truck Driver, Sanitation Laborer, Swamper. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 3.8% of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 147,240 people were employed as Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.