Garbage truck helper vs garbage collector

The differences between garbage truck helpers and garbage collectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a garbage truck helper and a garbage collector. Additionally, a garbage truck helper has an average salary of $32,282, which is higher than the $29,093 average annual salary of a garbage collector.

The top three skills for a garbage truck helper include GPS, property damage and hoisting. The most important skills for a garbage collector are hoisting, recyclable materials, and maintenance checks.

Garbage truck helper vs garbage collector overview

	Garbage Truck Helper	Garbage Collector
Yearly salary	$32,282	$29,093
Hourly rate	$15.52	$13.99
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	48,266	3,431
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 64%	High School Diploma, 60%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	12	12

Garbage truck helper vs garbage collector salary

Garbage truck helpers and garbage collectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Garbage Truck Helper	Garbage Collector
Average salary	$32,282	$29,093
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $39,000	Between $21,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	-	Fairfield, CA
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	City of Charleston
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between garbage truck helper and garbage collector education

There are a few differences between a garbage truck helper and a garbage collector in terms of educational background:

	Garbage Truck Helper	Garbage Collector
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 64%	High School Diploma, 60%
Most common major	Business	General Studies
Most common college	-	-

Garbage truck helper vs garbage collector demographics

Here are the differences between garbage truck helpers' and garbage collectors' demographics:

	Garbage Truck Helper	Garbage Collector
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%	Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.6% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%	Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between garbage truck helper and garbage collector duties and responsibilities

Garbage truck helper example responsibilities.

Maintain route for schedule residential and commercial waste and recycle.
Drive bobtail- box truck, delivery van, pickup truck to pick up and deliver stock.
Operate automate or semi-automate hoisting devices that raise refusebins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
Deliver and pickup loads of steel and parts that are fabricated, machine, and paint or powder coat.
Assist driver in keeping track of time and fluids pump, using GPS to locate quickest route to job sites.
Recycle salvage metals, clean workplace, strip copper, and sell products on Craigslist, topsoil production and care.

Garbage collector example responsibilities.

Start hoisting device that raises refuse bin attach to rear of truck and dumps contents onto opening in enclose truck body.
Used pitch forks, shovels and similar hand tools to pick up general refuse and trash from curbside and other areas.
Return products to Comcast corporate locations

Garbage truck helper vs garbage collector skills

Common garbage truck helper skills

GPS, 25%
Property Damage, 15%
Hoisting, 13%
Customer Service, 11%
Delivery Truck, 8%
Manual Labor, 7%

Common garbage collector skills

Hoisting, 26%
Recyclable Materials, 24%
Maintenance Checks, 7%
Residential Buildings, 7%
Drive Trucks, 7%
Property Damage, 6%

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Transportation Industry
Garbage Truck Helper
Garbage Truck Helper vs Garbage Collector

Updated January 8, 2025

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