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Garbage man salary in California

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$64,890median pay per year in California, or $31.20 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,970lowest 10% earn less
  2. $55,42025th percentile
  3. $64,890median
  4. $75,07075th percentile
  5. $90,370top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $49,690[3]

The median pay for garbage men in California was $64,890 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $15,200 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
13,930[4]
Rank by median pay
4 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+30.6%[6]

How much do garbage men make in California?

Half of garbage men in California earned more than $64,890 a year, or $31.20 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was $66,300 a year[7]. The US median was $49,690 a year[3]. California had the 4th highest median of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5].

For all jobs in California the median was $58,240 a year[8]. Garbage men were $6,650 higher than that[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,970, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $90,370[2].

Among the 21 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest, at $87,430 a year[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont was at $77,570 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at $62,490[11]. OEWS counts people paid a wage or salary, part time or full time. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners, and it does not add bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for garbage men in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$64,890[1]$49,690[3]
Median per hour$31.20[1]$23.89[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$45,970[2]$33,590[13]
Top 10% earn more than$90,370[2]$75,900[13]
Jobs13,930[4]147,240[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for garbage men, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$62,4904,210
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$77,5702,040
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$61,9401,280
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$69,3001,230
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$65,950910
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$87,430870
Fresno, CA$65,950390
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$55,810330

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for garbage men in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$63,2102,500
Nevada$61,310770
Arizona$46,9102,380

Median pay for garbage men in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for garbage men are projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: no formal educational credential[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a garbage man make in California?
The median was $64,890 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $66,300 a year[7].
How much does a garbage man make an hour in California?
The median was $31.20 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $22.10 an hour and the 90th percentile was $43.45[17].
Which city in California pays garbage men the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 21 metro areas with a published figure, at $87,430 a year[10].
Is California a good state for garbage men?
California ranked 4th of 50 states and DC for median pay[5]. Its median was $15,200 (30.6%) higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a garbage man in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is no formal educational credential, with no work experience needed and short-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not specific to California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California was $64,890 per year and $31.20 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California: 10th percentile $45,970, 25th percentile $55,420, 75th percentile $75,070, 90th percentile $90,370. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the US as a whole was $49,690 per year and $23.89 per hour, with about 147,240 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 13,930 people worked as Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 4th highest median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California ($64,890) was $15,200 (30.6%) higher than the US median ($49,690). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California was $66,300 per year and $31.87 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California was $6,650 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 21 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $87,430. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in the US: 10th percentile $33,590, 25th percentile $39,080, 75th percentile $62,020, 90th percentile $75,900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $63,210; Nevada $61,310; Arizona $46,910. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is projected to grow 2.1% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 15,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in California: 10th percentile $22.10, 25th percentile $26.64, 75th percentile $36.09, 90th percentile $43.45. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.