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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $49,690 Median per year · $23.89/hr Most earn $33,590–$75,900

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Fill out defective equipment reports.
  • Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed.
  • Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
  • Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
  • Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
  • Organize schedules for refuse collection.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 15,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Waste collection48.9%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals28.6%
  • Waste treatment and disposal10.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

This is an entry-level job. You can often start with just a high school diploma, though workers in this field typically have about 1 to 2 years of related experience first, so it often takes 1 to 2 years to get here.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build basic physical fitness, teamwork, and reliability, since the job involves lifting, working outdoors, and keeping a steady pace on a route.

  2. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

    1-2 years

    Work as a general laborer or material handler to learn safe lifting, equipment use, and how to work well with a crew, which builds the experience employers look for.

  3. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector

    Ongoing career

    Ride on or drive a collection truck and empty refuse or recycling containers into the truck, following a set route and safety rules.

Where it can lead

  1. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver

    1-2 years of experience first

    Move into driving larger trucks, which usually requires a commercial driver's license (CDL) and a clean driving record.

  2. Route Supervisor

    Several years, varies by employer of experience first

    Oversee a team of collectors, plan routes, handle customer issues, and train new workers, which requires strong leadership and organization skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, math, or driver's education classesHands-on and practical classes build skills you'll use on the job, and driver's ed prepares you for licensing later.
  • Get a part-time or summer job lifting and moving thingsWork at a grocery store, warehouse, or farm to build physical stamina and show employers you're reliable.
  • Take a first-aid or CPR classMany schools, Red Cross chapters, or community centers offer these, and they show employers you can handle safety situations.
  • Join a sports team or fitness activityStaying active builds the strength and endurance needed for lifting and walking all day on a route.
  • Volunteer with a community cleanup or recycling eventHelping with local cleanups shows interest in the work and gives you a feel for what it's like.

In college

  • Take courses in logistics, environmental science, or businessThese classes help you understand how waste and recycling systems work and prepare you for supervisor roles later.
  • Work a part-time job in warehousing, delivery, or material handlingCampus or local jobs in these areas build the experience employers want before they hire for collection routes.
  • Earn a commercial driver's license if you plan to driveA CDL can open doors to driving collection trucks and to heavier truck driving jobs in the future.
  • Join a campus sustainability or environmental clubClubs like these help you meet people in the recycling and waste field and learn about local programs.
  • Get safety certifications such as OSHA 10-hour trainingSafety training is a practical credential that shows employers you understand workplace hazards.

Tips for getting started

  • Get a safe driving record and check whether you're old enough and eligible for a commercial driver's license, since many collection jobs and promotions require one.
  • Ask local waste or recycling companies whether they hire summer or part-time helpers, which is a good way to get your first experience.
  • Pay attention to safety training and follow the rules every day; supervisors notice reliability and safety habits quickly.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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