How to hire a waste collector

How to hire a waste collector, step by step

Here's a step-by-step waste collector hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a waste collector job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new waste collector
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The waste collector hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A waste collector's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, waste collectors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents waste collector salaries for various positions.

   Type of Waste Collector	Description	Hourly rate
   Waste Collector	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$10-19
   Collector	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... Show more	$12-21
   Trash Collector	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... Show more	$10-18

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Waste Containers
   • Hoisting
   • Federal Laws
   • Recyclable Materials
   • Safety Procedures
   • Waste Materials
   • Hazardous Waste
   • CDL
   • Yard Waste
   • Disposal Site
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Residential Buildings
   • Relevant Legislation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate automated and semi-automate hoisting devices that rise refuse bins into openings in truck bodies.
   • Used pitch forks, shovels and similar hand tools to pick up general refuse and trash from curbside and other areas.
   • Return products to Comcast corporate locations

   More waste collector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your waste collector job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A waste collector can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, waste collectors' average salary in tennessee is 59% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level waste collectors 48% less than senior-level waste collectors.
   • Certifications. A waste collector with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a waste collector's salary.

   Average waste collector salary

   $14.26hourly

   $29,657 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level waste collector salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average waste collector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$44,280	$21
   2	Massachusetts	$35,200	$17
   3	Arizona	$31,288	$15
   4	Texas	$31,106	$15
   5	Illinois	$29,848	$14
   6	New York	$29,816	$14
   7	Oklahoma	$28,921	$14
   8	Michigan	$28,270	$14
   9	Ohio	$27,408	$13
   10	Missouri	$27,234	$13
   11	Pennsylvania	$26,778	$13
   12	Florida	$26,777	$13
   13	Iowa	$26,047	$13
   14	Nebraska	$24,855	$12
   15	Louisiana	$24,333	$12
   16	North Carolina	$21,833	$11
   17	Georgia	$20,503	$10
   18	South Carolina	$20,473	$10
   19	Tennessee	$18,123	$9

   Average waste collector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of Houston	$34,625	$16.65
   2	PSEA	$32,423	$15.59	1
   3	City Of Statesville	$32,294	$15.53
   4	Live Nation Entertainment	$32,261	$15.51	1
   5	Lane County Engineer	$31,626	$15.20
   6	Valet Living	$30,169	$14.50	252
   7	House of Blues	$28,910	$13.90
   8	PeopleReady	$27,024	$12.99	12

4. Writing a waste collector job description

   A good waste collector job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a waste collector job description:

   Waste collector job description example

   Be in a growing company, come work with 5280 Community Waste Solutions, LLC as a Concierge Trash Collector!

   5280 Community Waste Solutions is a local company and strives for a culture of excellence while having a positive impact on the world.
   Take a look at the owner explaining the strong sense of teamwork at 5280 Community Waste Solutions:

   www.CWS5280.com

   
   Pay: Starts at $18 an hour (part time position)
   Paid training.

   5280 Community Waste Solutions LLC is a local company with leadership that listens and is accessible. 5280 CWS trust and respect their employees without micro managing their nightly shifts. All while providing challenging work with authority & autonomy to solve issues.
   
   Hours and Available Shifts: Looking for multiple candidates to fill shifts, each candidate will work 3-5 of the following shifts: (part time position)

   • MORNINGS: Saturday from 8:30am-10:30am
   • EVENINGS: Sunday - Thursday (No Friday's) from 7pm-9pm

   Description: Employees will walk around the apartment complex, pick up bags of trash and/or recycling from the doorstep of each unit and take the trash to the onsite compactor/bin.

   • Change out and replace collection bags at all on-site pet waste collection stations
   • Light janitorial duties
   • Other duties as assigned

   Requirements for this Position:

   · Ability to lift and transport up to 50 pounds

   · Walk long distances during shift

   · Climb multiple flights of stairs while carrying trash items

   · Ability to pass a background check

   · Smart Phone capable of downloading App for clocking in/out

   · Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions

   Commonly Asked Questions:

   · What type of position is this: W4

   · Do I need a CDL: NO

   · Do I need to provide my own truck: NO - The majority of the apartment communities we service, the trash is walked to the onsite compactor/bin by the employee.

   All offers of employment will be contingent on successful background screening.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right waste collector for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your waste collector job on Zippia to find and recruit waste collector candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with waste collector candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new waste collector

   Once you've selected the best waste collector candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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