How much does a garbage collector make?
Typical yearly pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the United States.
median pay per year, about $4,141 a month or $23.89 an hour.
That's more than 27% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #73 of 100.
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| Real estate agent | $52,830 |
| Private detective | $51,220 |
| Auto mechanic | $50,620 |
| Garbage collector | $49,690 |
| Dental assistant | $48,070 |
| School bus driver | $47,920 |
| Sports coach or scout | $47,320 |
Similar jobs
- Private detective$51,220
- Correctional officer$58,940
- Firefighter$59,280
- Water treatment operator$60,020
- Mail carrier$60,550
- Security guard$38,020
How much does a garbage collector make per hour?
About $23.89 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming a garbage collector
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
How to become a garbage collector
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors” (code 53-7081.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.