How To Become A Waste Collection Driver: What It Is and Career Path

What is a waste collection driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a waste collection driver. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.83 an hour? That's $41,251 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 90,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreWaste Collection DriverUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $41,251

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.84%

Asian 3.98%

Black or African American 12.46%

Hispanic or Latino 18.21%

Unknown 4.61%

White 59.90%

Gender

female 7.22%

male 92.78%

Age - 49

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 - 49

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.6

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

1.4

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a waste collection driver

Explore waste collection driver education requirements

Most common waste collection driver degrees

High School Diploma

46.8 %

Associate

17.7 %

Certificate

12.9 %

Start to develop specific waste collection driver skills

Skills	Percentages
DOT	24.95%
OSHA	17.79%
Post-Trip Inspections	16.74%
Waste Management	15.33%
Minor Maintenance	4.84%

Complete relevant waste collection driver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New waste collection drivers 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 waste collection driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real waste collection driver resumes.

Research waste collection driver duties and responsibilities

Operate automated or semi-automate hoisting devices on side loader or front loader.
Attend annual driver improvement classes to maintain knowledge of safety and emergency procedures of transportation hazmat products.
Deliver customers to their destination/homes/doorsteps with luggage/baggage groceries

Prepare your waste collection driver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your waste collection driver 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 waste collection driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable waste collection driver resume templates

Build a professional waste collection driver 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 waste collection driver resume.