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Trash collector salary
Average trash collector salary
$14.18
Understanding the Trash Collector Salary
The average salary for a trash collector stands at approximately $29,503 annually or about $14 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location and experience level. For instance, trash collectors in urban areas often command higher wages due to the cost of living and increased demand.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start at a lower rate, while those with more experience can earn considerably more. Additionally, specialized roles within waste management may offer enhanced compensation.
Where Can You Earn More?
States such as California and New York tend to offer the highest salaries for trash collectors, reflecting the higher living costs and demand for waste management services. Understanding these regional differences can help job seekers make informed choices about their career paths.
- Highest Paying States: California, New York, Texas
- Average Salary by State: Detailed state-by-state analysis available on Zippia
Exploring these opportunities can guide aspiring trash collectors toward rewarding careers in waste management.
Let Zippi find your next trash collector job
Let Zippi find your next trash collector job
Where can a Trash Collector earn more?
Trash collector salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level trash collector | $21,700 | $10.42 |
| Mid-level trash collector | $27,300 | $13.11 |
| Senior-level trash collector | $33,700 | $16.20 |
Trash collector salary estimates from across the web
Average trash collector salary by state
The highest-paying states for trash collectors are Alaska, California, and Washington. The lowest average trash collector salary states are Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for trash collectors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,354 | $19.40 |
| 2 | California | $42,835 | $20.59 |
| 3 | Alaska | $44,694 | $21.49 |
| 4 | Utah | $35,484 | $17.06 |
| 5 | Oregon | $37,981 | $18.26 |
| 6 | Nevada | $33,337 | $16.03 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $37,722 | $18.14 |
| 8 | Colorado | $33,768 | $16.23 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $30,697 | $14.76 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $34,407 | $16.54 |
| 12 | Vermont | $36,274 | $17.44 |
| 13 | Arizona | $31,001 | $14.90 |
| 14 | Texas | $28,302 | $13.61 |
| 15 | Maine | $33,809 | $16.25 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $29,986 | $14.42 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $30,778 | $14.80 |
| 18 | Florida | $27,297 | $13.12 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $31,691 | $15.24 |
| 20 | Michigan | $28,755 | $13.82 |
| 21 | Indiana | $27,799 | $13.36 |
| 22 | New York | $30,391 | $14.61 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $29,155 | $14.02 |
| 24 | Idaho | $32,016 | $15.39 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $28,977 | $13.93 |
| 26 | Ohio | $27,895 | $13.41 |
| 27 | Illinois | $29,977 | $14.41 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $27,986 | $13.45 |
| 29 | Missouri | $26,887 | $12.93 |
| 30 | Alabama | $24,408 | $11.73 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $27,067 | $13.01 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $26,946 | $12.95 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $27,173 | $13.06 |
| 34 | Delaware | $28,094 | $13.51 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $24,352 | $11.71 |
| 36 | Iowa | $26,417 | $12.70 |
| 37 | Montana | $25,130 | $12.08 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $24,026 | $11.55 |
| 39 | Georgia | $22,654 | $10.89 |
| 40 | Kansas | $26,290 | $12.64 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $24,043 | $11.56 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $27,385 | $13.17 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $24,889 | $11.97 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $20,398 | $9.81 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $20,535 | $9.87 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $18,117 | $8.71 |
| 47 | Maryland | $18,842 | $9.06 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $23,010 | $11.06 |
| 49 | Virginia | $19,385 | $9.32 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $22,970 | $11.04 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $22,880 | $11.00 |
Highest paying cities for trash collectors
The highest-paying cities for trash collectors are Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,369 | $20.37 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $40,695 | $19.56 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $38,008 | $18.27 |
| 4 | Broomfield, CO | $33,834 | $16.27 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $31,566 | $15.18 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,076 | $14.94 |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | $30,997 | $14.90 |
| 8 | Charleston, WV | $30,458 | $14.64 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $30,017 | $14.43 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $29,055 | $13.97 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $28,627 | $13.76 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $28,548 | $13.72 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $27,676 | $13.31 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $27,594 | $13.27 |
| 15 | Fort Myers, FL | $27,417 | $13.18 |
| 16 | Easton, PA | $27,215 | $13.08 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $27,167 | $13.06 |
| 18 | Des Moines, IA | $26,434 | $12.71 |
| 19 | Kansas City, KS | $26,191 | $12.59 |
| 20 | Omaha, NE | $24,804 | $11.93 |
Trash collector salary details
A trash collector's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a trash collector's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $29,503 | $2,459 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
Highest paying trash collector jobs
The highest paying types of trash collectors are commercial front load driver, residential recycle driver, and driver/refuse collector.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collector | $34,872 | $2,906 | $16.77 | 23,948 |
Top companies hiring trash collectors now:
Which companies pay trash collectors the most?
Trash collector salaries at 5280 and Service Master Clean are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average trash collector salary at companies like IH Services and Valet Living are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5280 | $31,714 | $15.25 |
| 2 | Service Master Clean | $29,978 | $14.41 |
| 3 | IH Services | $29,940 | $14.39 |
| 4 | Valet Living | $29,875 | $14.36 |
| 5 | Aerotek | $27,933 | $13.43 |
| 6 | Adecco | $27,128 | $13.04 |
| 7 | PeopleReady | $27,031 | $13.00 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Trash Collector salary by industry
The average trash collector salary varies across industries:
- The average trash collector salary in the professional industry is $34,209, the highest of any industry.
- The average trash collector salary in the finance industry is $32,475.
- Trash collectors in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $30,060, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for trash collectors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $34,209 | $16.45 |
| 2 | Government | $32,475 | $15.61 |
| 3 | Utilities | $31,831 | $15.30 |
| 4 | Construction | $30,223 | $14.53 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $30,060 | $14.45 |
High paying trash collector jobs
Trash collector salary trends
The average trash collector salary has risen by $5,146 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average trash collector earned $24,357 annually, but today, they earn $29,503 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for trash collectors over the last decade.
Compare trash collector salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average trash collector salary over time
Compare trash collector salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Trash collector salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,500 | $14.18 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $28,600 | $13.73 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $28,100 | $13.52 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $27,300 | $13.12 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $26,600 | $12.79 | +4.2% |
Recently added trash collector salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valet Waste | Trash Collector-Personal Truck Required-Nights | Shreveport, LA | 06/30/2025 | $25,044 |
| Compass Group, North America | Trash Collector at Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, TX | 06/27/2025 | $25,044 |
| Peopleready | Trash Collector | Venice, FL | 06/24/2025 | $35,479 |
| Recycle Now | Valet Trash Collector *Weekly PAY!* | Dallas, TX | 06/21/2025 | $11,479 |
| All Purpose Staffing | Trash Collector | Elgin, SC | 06/12/2025 | $33,392 |
| Peopleready | Trash Collector | Conroe, TX | 06/10/2025 | $33,392 |
| Valet Living | Trash Collector Daytona Beach-Personal Truck Required-Nights | Daytona Beach, FL | 06/10/2025 | $35,479 |
| Community Concierge Services | Truck Required Trash Collector Charlotte/North Lake Area | Charlotte, NC | 06/10/2025 | $14,348 |
| Community Concierge Services | Trash Collector (Truck Required) | Orlando, FL | 06/10/2025 | $14,348 |
| Community Concierge Services | Per Day Trash Collector Truck Required | Charleston, SC | 06/10/2025 | $26,088 |
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