# Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

> Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/refuse-and-recyclable-material-collectors
- SOC code: 53-7081.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $49,690 (10th percentile $33,590, 90th percentile $75,900)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.1%
- Openings a year: 15,500
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 14 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 5 |
| Enterprising (E) | 6 |
| Conventional (C) | 59 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 83/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 68/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 67/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 60/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 57/100)
- Getting Information (importance 54/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 54/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 53/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 50/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 49/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, Repairing

## Knowledge

Mechanical, English Language, Transportation, Customer and Personal Service, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Telecommunications, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Education and Training

## Also called

Collector, Disposal Man, Disposal Worker, Dumpman, Front Load Trash Truck Driver, Front Loader Residential Driver, Garbage Collection Sanitation Engineer, Garbage Collector, Garbage Man, Garbage Person

## Related careers

- [Recycling and Reclamation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recycling-and-reclamation-workers): $40,240 median pay
- [Hazardous Materials Removal Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hazardous-materials-removal-workers): $49,450 median pay
- [Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers): $58,640 median pay
- [Recycling Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recycling-coordinators): $62,890 median pay
- [Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tank-car-truck-and-ship-loaders): $58,870 median pay
- [Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/septic-tank-servicers-and-sewer-pipe-cleaners): $49,880 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.