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The differences between trash collectors and 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 trash collector and a collector. Additionally, a collector has an average salary of $34,872, which is higher than the $29,503 average annual salary of a trash collector.
The top three skills for a trash collector include apartment community, trash compactor and trash truck. The most important skills for a collector are patients, customer service, and payment arrangements.
| Trash Collector | Collector | |
| Yearly salary | $29,503 | $34,872 |
| Hourly rate | $14.18 | $16.77 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 3,364 | 23,948 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 43 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Also known as trash collectors, garbage collectors work for a private waste management firm or the municipal government. Trash collectors collect and remove recyclable and waste materials for processing. Typically, they work in pairs to pick up and remove recyclable goods, yard debris, or waste from residential, commercial business centers, public parks, and residential neighborhoods. Typically, they operate waste collection vehicles following the routes, gathering refuse, then reporting to their supervisors. To become successful in this job, you have to get stamina and physical strength.
Collectors are responsible for monitoring and providing immediate actions for client accounts with overdue payments. Collectors must be able to contact clients through phone or e-mail. A collector's duty also includes negotiating on payment procedures and offering repayment plans and alternative payment solutions to free the debt. Collectors need to document any agreements made to the client, updating and verifying contact information, resolving account discrepancies and client complaints, and report escalated concerns to the management.
Trash collectors and collectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Trash Collector | Collector | |
| Average salary | $29,503 | $34,872 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $39,000 | Between $27,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | 5280 | Uline |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a trash collector and a collector in terms of educational background:
| Trash Collector | Collector | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | General Studies | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between trash collectors' and collectors' demographics:
| Trash Collector | Collector | |
| Average age | 43 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9% | Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 2.9% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |