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Job title · SOC 53-7081

Sanitation Worker / Refuse Collector

Also known as: sanitation worker, garbage man

01

Overview

Sourced

Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.

O*NET definition of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (SOC 53-7081) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

44,570
in government (SOC 53-7081)
30%
of this occupation works for government
$47,020
median pay in government
Local
levels of government

Titles employers use

Garbage ManRoll Off Truck DriverSanitation LaborerTrash CollectorFront Load Trash Truck DriverRecycle DriverRefuse CollectorRoll Off Container Truck DriverSwamperTruck Driver
How people usually get in Editorial
civil-service exam (NYC DSNY) or application + CDL. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

02

Requirements

Sourced
Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 53-7081)
Education needed to enter
No formal educational credential
Related work experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

Less than a High School Diploma
2%
High School Diploma or the equivalent
81%
Post-Secondary Certificate
6%
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
11%

Share of surveyed workers in Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (SOC 53-7081) naming each level as required to be hired, 20 respondents, O*NET survey August 2023. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

03

How to get hired

Sourced

There are usually no formal educational requirements to become a hand laborer or material mover. They typically learn through on-the-job training that lasts 1 month or less.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Hand Laborers and Material Movers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

04

Academy and training

Sourced
Training to become competent (BLS)
SOC 53-7081
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation level (O*NET)
Job zone
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

06

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Seniority steps: single title × seniority steps; growth via steps, overtime, bidding (bus operator, sanitation, dispatcher). Typical structure for a sanitation department; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

  1. Sanitation Worker (probationary)
  2. Sanitation Worker (steps to top)
  3. Crew Leader / Supervisor
  4. General Superintendent
  5. District / Borough Chief

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

07

Pay

Sourced
Federal
$60,670
State
$49,620
Local
$47,020
All government
$47,020
Private sector
$51,090

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer typeWorkers10th pct.25thMedian75th90th
Federal190$51,900$53,000$60,670$69,430$73,820
State650$37,540$39,810$49,620$61,190$75,900
Local43,730$30,380$37,450$47,020$61,660$85,900
All government44,570$30,520$37,550$47,020$61,670$85,900
Private sector102,670$34,760$39,960$51,090$62,140$74,110

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

08

Schedule

Sourced
Work schedule
Regular
73%
Irregular
18%
Seasonal
9%
Typical work week
Less than 40 hours
7%
40 hours
29%
More than 40 hours
64%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2023). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

12

Day-to-day work

Sourced
  1. Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.4.5
  2. Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.4.3
  3. Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.4.3
  4. Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.4.3
  5. Fill out defective equipment reports.4.3
  6. Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.4.0
  7. Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.4.0
  8. Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse.4.0
  9. Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, or other maintenance problems.4.0
  10. Check road or weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected.3.8

The 10 most important of 11 core tasks for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2023.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived
Custodian (schools & public buildings)
Same job family
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)
Same job family
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)
Same job family
Lineworker (public power utility)
Same job family
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker
Same job family
Public Works / Street Maintenance Worker
Same job family
Sewer / Collection System Worker
Same job family
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)
Same job family
16

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (SOC 53-7081) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

StateWorkers10th pct.Median90th pct.
Illinois4,910$38,790$75,050$88,640
Washington3,750$54,070$74,620$88,990
New York11,630$42,740$64,950$86,720
California13,930$45,970$64,890$90,370
Oregon2,500$53,270$63,210$72,440
Minnesota2,500$47,260$62,570$71,450
Nevada770$48,030$61,310$81,950
Delaware600$38,700$61,290$74,590
Colorado3,700$39,580$60,310$75,330
Wisconsin1,550$33,360$59,810$64,200
Utah960$42,990$59,310$72,930
North Dakota360$41,690$59,000$71,330
Indiana3,180$36,000$58,900$64,680
Hawaii770$30,760$56,270$65,740
Rhode Island470$34,810$55,970$61,370
District of Columbia540$39,810$55,490$76,020
New Jersey4,330$37,590$54,630$71,230
Vermont160$41,240$51,960$63,070
Michigan4,020$34,150$51,030$76,360
Massachusetts1,010$39,180$50,310$73,090
Missouri1,930$31,760$50,010$71,270
Idaho730$38,210$49,880$58,030
Iowa1,780$38,220$49,850$63,350
Montana370$37,080$49,420$60,730
Nebraska910$37,210$49,390$59,400
Ohio4,710$35,840$49,330$62,450
Wyoming280$33,770$48,820$58,800
Pennsylvania6,220$31,200$48,240$66,660
Florida11,650$35,350$47,820$61,450
New Mexico1,070$34,870$47,660$61,040
Georgia4,830$31,680$46,960$60,330
Arizona2,380$33,480$46,910$73,610
New Hampshire340$37,920$46,580$59,810
Virginia4,330$28,120$46,530$61,040
Texas12,860$30,830$46,330$59,380
Alabama2,790$29,500$46,240$61,000
Alaska250$31,620$45,740$80,310
Kansas910$29,100$45,510$57,090
North Carolina7,250$25,140$44,670$58,570
Maine770$34,590$43,360$61,950
Tennessee2,550$28,390$43,270$61,400
Kentucky1,580$29,610$43,100$56,170
Oklahoma2,030$31,030$43,060$59,590
Maryland3,120$35,900$41,870$61,210
Mississippi1,970$29,420$39,170$58,340
Louisiana2,200$27,840$38,810$59,010
Connecticut810$34,980$38,220$62,330
West Virginia1,000$26,520$35,840$47,960
Arkansas1,600$26,590$35,640$51,570
South Carolina2,020$22,340$34,880$50,600
South Dakota340$27,380$32,950$47,700

51 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

  • 05 Probation
    Probation length and what ends it
    Not yet collected
  • 09 Benefits and pension
    Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
    Not yet collected
  • 10 Union contracts
    Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
    Not yet collected
  • 11 Transfers and lateral entry
    Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
    Not yet collected
  • 14 Exam practice
    Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
    Not yet collected
  • 15 Employer directory
    L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
    Not yet collected