Garbage Truck Driver Salary in Illinois
A garbage truck driver in Illinois earns about $68,310 a year — roughly $32.84 an hour— on average. That’s about 29% above the national average for the job.
Illinois average
$68,310
per year
Per hour
$32.84
estimated
vs. national
+29%
national avg $52,820
Pay for garbage truck drivers in Illinois tracks the same things it does everywhere: the route type (residential pays least, commercial and roll-off pay more), whether the job is with a city or a union, overtime, and your CDL class and record. Illinois sits above the national average, largely because of higher cost of living and a stronger presence of municipal and union employers.
Want the full breakdown of how the pay is set and how to move up the scale? Read the complete garbage truck driver salary guide — it covers the national pay range, what raises your number, and how to earn more.
Find garbage truck driver jobs in Illinois
About Trash lists CDL driver and hauling jobs across Illinoisand the rest of the country — free to browse. Set an alert and we’ll email you when a job opens near you.
Illinois garbage truck driver pay — common questions
How much do garbage truck drivers make in Illinois?+
Garbage truck drivers (refuse and recyclable material collectors) in Illinois earn about $68,310 a year on average — roughly $32.84 an hour — according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's about 29% above the national average.
Do you need a CDL to drive a garbage truck in Illinois?+
Yes — like the rest of the country, Illinois requires a commercial driver's license for most routes. A Class B CDL covers a standard rear- or side-loader; a Class A is needed for roll-off and transfer-trailer work, which also tends to pay more.
Wage figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), occupation 53-7081 — Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors, Illinois state annual mean wage (May 2023, the latest published state data). Hourly is estimated from the annual mean. Your actual pay will vary by employer, route, and experience.