Refuse driver demographics and statistics in the US
Refuse driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates refuse driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our refuse driver estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about refuse drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 11,126 refuse drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 3.6% of all refuse drivers are women, while 96.4% are men.
- The average refuse driver age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of refuse drivers is White (61.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.1%), Black or African American (11.8%) and Unknown (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 91% of what men earned.
- 4% of all refuse drivers are LGBT.
- Refuse drivers are 47% more likely to work at government companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Refuse driver demographics by:
Refuse driver gender statistics
3.6% of refuse drivers are women and 96.4% of refuse drivers are men.
- Male, 96.4%
- Female, 3.6%
Refuse driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 96.4% |
| Female | 3.6% |
Refuse driver gender pay gap
Women earn 91¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$37,785
Female income
$34,320
Refuse driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in refuse driver positions over time. Currently, 3.6% of refuse drivers are female.
Refuse driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 97.41% | 2.59% |
| 2011 | 97.33% | 2.67% |
| 2012 | 97.08% | 2.92% |
| 2013 | 96.97% | 3.03% |
| 2014 | 96.85% | 3.15% |
| 2015 | 96.89% | 3.11% |
| 2016 | 96.79% | 3.21% |
| 2017 | 96.72% | 3.28% |
| 2018 | 96.32% | 3.68% |
| 2019 | 96.39% | 3.61% |
| 2020 | 96.46% | 3.54% |
| 2021 | 96.43% | 3.57% |
Refuse driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared refuse drivers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, diesel truck driver and tank wagon driver have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Matron | 11% | 89% |
| Bus Escort | 18% | 82% |
| Bus Monitor | 19% | 81% |
| Refuse Driver | 96% | 4% |
| Wrecker Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tank Wagon Driver | 99% | 1% |
| Diesel Truck Driver | 100% | 0% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Refuse driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among refuse drivers is White, which makes up 61.4% of all refuse drivers. Comparatively, 17.1% of refuse drivers are Hispanic or Latino and 11.8% of refuse drivers are Black or African American.
- White, 61.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.1%
- Black or African American, 11.8%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Asian, 4.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Refuse driver race
| Refuse driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 61.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.1% |
| Black or African American | 11.8% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Asian | 4.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Refuse driver race and ethnicity over time
See how refuse driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Refuse driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 70.42% | 10.54% | 2.90% | 13.35% |
| 2011 | 70.05% | 10.93% | 2.92% | 13.24% |
| 2012 | 69.34% | 11.07% | 3.07% | 13.58% |
| 2013 | 69.43% | 10.61% | 2.99% | 14.10% |
| 2014 | 69.15% | 11.05% | 3.17% | 13.75% |
| 2015 | 68.24% | 11.39% | 3.21% | 14.21% |
| 2016 | 67.45% | 11.03% | 3.31% | 15.08% |
| 2017 | 67.24% | 11.15% | 3.33% | 15.25% |
| 2018 | 66.75% | 11.20% | 3.63% | 15.26% |
| 2019 | 67.13% | 11.16% | 3.45% | 15.16% |
| 2020 | 64.35% | 11.14% | 3.69% | 15.45% |
| 2021 | 61.40% | 11.83% | 4.03% | 17.06% |
Refuse driver wage gap by race
According to our data, white refuse drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian refuse drivers have the lowest average salary at $37,526.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $37,854 |
| White | $38,127 |
| Black or African American | $37,636 |
| Asian | $37,526 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $37,787 |
Average refuse driver age
See how the average age of refuse drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Refuse driver age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 49 | 44 |
| Unknown | 46 | 39.5 |
| Asian | 46 | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 43 |
| White | 51 | 48 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 49.5 | 47 |
Refuse driver age breakdown
The average age of refuse drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the refuse driver population.
Refuse driver age breakdown
| Refuse Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Refuse driver educational attainment
- High School Diploma, 54%
- Associate, 23%
- Diploma, 13%
- Bachelor's, 7%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Refuse drivers by degree level
| Refuse driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 54% |
| Associate | 23% |
| Diploma | 13% |
| Bachelor's | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Refuse driver jobs you might like
Refuse driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, refuse drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $39,485 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, refuse drivers earn a median annual income of $39,117 compared to $38,826 for refuse drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $35,961 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,826 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,117 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,485 |
Refuse driver employment statistics
Most refuse drivers work for a government in the government industry.
Company size where refuse drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where refuse drivers work.
Refuse driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 29% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 18% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 10% |
Refuse driver jobs by company type
Employees with the refuse driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most refuse drivers prefer to work at government companies over private companies.
Refuse driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 10% |
| Private | 35% |
| Government | 47% |
Refuse driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for refuse drivers are government, utilities and education.
Refuse driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 45% |
| Utilities | 18% |
| Education | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Internet | 4% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
Refuse driver turnover and employment statistics
Refuse driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for refuse drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Refuse driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | Refuse driver unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.33% |
| 2011 | 8.73% |
| 2012 | 7.76% |
| 2013 | 6.88% |
| 2014 | 5.54% |
| 2015 | 4.98% |
| 2016 | 4.17% |
| 2017 | 4.08% |
| 2018 | 3.68% |
| 2019 | 3.45% |
| 2020 | 5.26% |
| 2021 | 5.44% |
Average refuse driver tenure
The average refuse driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 262 refuse drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Refuse driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 25% |
| 3-4 years | 19% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Refuse driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of refuse drivers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Operator | 1.73% | 26,419 |
| Refuse Driver | 3.95% | - |
| Medical Van Driver | 6.17% | 221,316 |
| City Bus Driver | 8.69% | 49,162 |
| School Bus Operator | 8.77% | 49,076 |
Similar refuse driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Operator | 1.73% | 26,419 |
| Medical Van Driver | 6.17% | 221,316 |
| City Bus Driver | 8.69% | 49,162 |
| School Bus Operator | 8.77% | 49,076 |
