Garbage Truck Driver Salary: What Refuse Collectors Really Make
Plain numbers from the federal wage data — what the job pays, what moves the number up, and where to find the openings. No fluff.
The median garbage truck driver makes about $49,690 a year ($23.89/hour) as of the latest federal data (2025). Pay runs from roughly $34,000 starting out to $76,000+ for the most experienced drivers. Roll-off, commercial, and union/municipal routes pay the most. About 16,900 jobs open up every year.
What does a garbage truck driver make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this job as “Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors.” As of the May 2025 data, the median wage is $49,690 a year — that’s $23.89 an hour. Half of all drivers make more than that, half make less.
But the median hides a wide range. Here’s the full national spread (BLS OEWS, May 2025):
| Where you fall | Per year | Per hour (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% (just starting) | ~$33,590 | ~$16.15 |
| 25th percentile | ~$39,080 | ~$18.79 |
| Median (typical) | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| 75th percentile | ~$62,020 | ~$29.82 |
| Top 10% (experienced) | ~$75,900 | ~$36.49 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (occupation 53-7081). The national median has climbed to $49,690 from $45,760 two years earlier — pay keeps rising. Hourly is estimated from annual wages.
Pay by state
Where you work changes the number a lot — cost of living and union/municipal presence drive it. Pick your state for local pay:
More states coming soon.
What changes your pay
Two drivers with the same CDL can earn $15,000 apart. Here’s what moves the number:
- Route type. Residential rear-load is the entry point. Commercial front-load and especially roll-off routes pay more because they need a Class A CDL and more skill.
- Who you work for.Municipal (city) and union jobs usually pay more than small private haulers and come with better benefits and pensions — but they’re harder to get into.
- Region. Pay tracks cost of living. The Northeast and West Coast pay well above the national median; rural areas pay below it.
- Overtime.This is the big one drivers forget. Routes that run long or start at 4 a.m. stack overtime — many drivers add $8,000–$15,000 a year on top of base.
- Clean record. A clean MVR and a current CDL with the right endorsements get you the better routes and the sign-on bonuses.
How to earn more
- 1Upgrade to a Class A CDL.It opens roll-off, transfer-trailer, and long-haul work — the routes sitting in the top 25%.
- 2Target city and union jobs. They post less often and fill fast, so set an alert and apply the day they open.
- 3Keep your MVR spotless. One avoidable violation can cost you the higher-paying routes and the bonuses.
- 4Move toward higher-cost metros if you can. The same job pays thousands more in the Northeast and on the West Coast.
Is it a good career?
For a job that doesn’t need a college degree, the pay is solid and the work is steady. About 147,900 people do it nationally, and the BLS projects roughly 16,900 openings every yearthrough 2034 as drivers retire or move up. Trash doesn’t stop — this is one of the most recession-resistant trades there is. The clear path up is residential → commercial → roll-off → supervisor or owner-operator.
How it compares to other waste-industry jobs
Garbage truck driver sits mid-pack. Class A (roll-off/transfer) driving, mechanics, supervisors, and managers all pay more — the clearest paths up (2025 BLS pay):
| Role | Median / yr | Average / yr |
|---|---|---|
| Operations manager | $107,230 | $121,600 |
| Route supervisor | $62,890 | $66,860 |
| Diesel mechanic | $61,770 | $64,320 |
| Class A driver (roll-off / transfer) | $58,640 | $59,710 |
| Dispatcher | $50,340 | $54,740 |
| Garbage truck driver | $49,690 | $52,820 |
| Light truck driver | $44,860 | $48,770 |
| Helper / laborer | $40,240 | $42,260 |
See the full breakdown on the waste industry salary hub.
Find waste industry driver jobs
About Trash lists CDL driver, mechanic, and hauling jobs across the country — free to browse, no signup. Set an alert and we’ll email you when a job opens in your area.
Common questions
How much do garbage truck drivers make an hour?+
The national median is about $23.89 an hour (BLS, 2025). Newer collectors start closer to $16–$19/hour, while experienced drivers in higher-paying areas earn $30–$36/hour or more.
Do you need a CDL to drive a garbage truck?+
For most routes, yes — a Class B CDL covers a standard single rear- or side-loader, and a Class A is needed for roll-off and transfer-trailer work. Some helper/collector roles don’t require a CDL, but the driving seat (and the higher pay) does.
What is the highest-paying waste collection work?+
Roll-off and commercial front-load routes, transfer-station and long-haul trailer driving, and union or municipal (government) positions tend to pay the most. Top earners (the 90th percentile) make roughly $76,000 a year, and union city jobs can run higher with overtime.
How much does a garbage truck driver make starting out?+
Entry-level pay (the bottom 10%) is around $34,000 a year nationally, though it varies a lot by region and employer. A clean driving record, a CDL already in hand, and willingness to start early move you up the scale fast.
Is being a garbage truck driver a good job?+
It’s steady, hands-on work that doesn’t require a degree, and demand is consistent — about 147,900 people do it nationally with roughly 16,900 openings a year as drivers retire or move up. Pay is solid for a no-degree CDL job, with clear paths to higher-paying roll-off and commercial routes.
Wage figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), occupation 53-7081 — Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors. Wage figures from the May 2025 release; employment and openings from BLS 2024–2034 projections. Hourly figures for percentiles are estimated from annual wages. National figures; your local pay will vary.