How To Become A Trash Collector: What It Is and Career Path

What is a trash collector and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

This is certifiably not a simple work. Trash collectors are extremely persevering, and they return home depleted. Yet, there is undiscovered greatness that meets the eye with regards to being a Trash collector. Trash collectors work for a private waste administration firm or the civil government. Normally, they work in a team to remove recyclable merchandise, yard trash, or waste from private, business focuses, recreational areas, and private areas. To be fruitful in this work, you need to have endurance and physical strength.

Trash collectors in the United States make an average compensation of $30,267 each year or $14.55 per hour. Individuals on the lower end of that range, the base 10%, generally make $21,000 every year, while the top 10% make $42,000.

ScoreTrash CollectorUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,503

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.2

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.00%

Asian 2.85%

Black or African American 13.11%

Hispanic or Latino 17.50%

Unknown 3.49%

White 61.05%

Gender

female 6.90%

male 93.10%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a trash collector

Explore trash collector education requirements

Most common trash collector degrees

High School Diploma

64.6 %

Diploma

14.6 %

Associate

7.4 %

Start to develop specific trash collector skills

Skills	Percentages
Apartment Community	81.90%
Trash Compactor	15.09%
Trash Truck	0.70%
CDL	0.53%
Dump Contents	0.43%

Complete relevant trash collector training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New trash collectors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a trash collector based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real trash collector resumes.

Research trash collector duties and responsibilities

Operate a tandem axle garbage truck in a city setting collection household waste and recycle.
Operate automated or semi-automate hoisting devices.
Conduct pre and post trip inspections.
Vacuum & clean carpeted areas as well as offices, restrooms and stock areas.

Prepare your trash collector resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your trash collector resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a trash collector resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable trash collector resume templates

Build a professional trash collector resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your trash collector resume.