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Garbage truck helper vs waste collector

The differences between garbage truck helpers and waste 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 waste collector. Additionally, a garbage truck helper has an average salary of $32,282, which is higher than the $29,657 average annual salary of a waste collector.

The top three skills for a garbage truck helper include GPS, property damage and hoisting. The most important skills for a waste collector are waste containers, hoisting, and federal laws.

Garbage truck helper vs waste collector overview

Garbage Truck HelperWaste Collector
Yearly salary$32,282$29,657
Hourly rate$15.52$14.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs48,2663,928
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 64%High School Diploma, 56%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

Garbage truck helper vs waste collector salary

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

Garbage Truck HelperWaste Collector
Average salary$32,282$29,657
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $39,000Between $21,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City-El Dorado Hills, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-University of Houston
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between garbage truck helper and waste collector education

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

Garbage Truck HelperWaste Collector
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 64%High School Diploma, 56%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Garbage truck helper vs waste collector demographics

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

Garbage Truck HelperWaste Collector
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 92.9% Female, 7.1%Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 13.3% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between garbage truck helper and waste 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.
  • Show more

Waste collector example responsibilities.

  • Operate automated and semi-automate hoisting devices that rise refuse bins into openings in truck bodies.
  • 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 waste collector skills

Common garbage truck helper skills
  • GPS, 25%
  • Property Damage, 15%
  • Hoisting, 13%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Delivery Truck, 8%
  • Manual Labor, 7%
Common waste collector skills
  • Waste Containers, 27%
  • Hoisting, 15%
  • Federal Laws, 11%
  • Recyclable Materials, 11%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Waste Materials, 5%

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