Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors play an important role in keeping communities functioning by handling waste and recyclable materials. This career employs about 148,000 people nationally, with projected employment growth of 0.9%. With around 17,000 annual openings, there are ongoing opportunities for new entrants as well as experienced workers. The typical entry path does not require a formal educational credential, which can make this a practical option if you want to start earning more quickly. At the same time, the work calls for a solid mix of skills, including physical strength and stamina, mechanical ability, attention to detail, customer service, and problem solving. The national median salary of $48,350 provides a reference point, but earnings can vary significantly by state and metro area. Overall, this occupation can offer a stable path for people who are comfortable with physically demanding work and who want to build a long-term career based on reliability and hands-on skills rather than formal schooling.
The national median annual salary for refuse and recyclable material collectors is $48,350, but pay varies meaningfully across locations. Several top states offer higher median pay, including Washington at $74,620, New York at $64,950, California at $64,890, and Colorado at $60,310. Among metro areas, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $87,430, followed by San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA at $77,570 and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ at $65,310. These figures show that workers in certain states and metros can earn substantially more than the national median. When considering earning potential, it is worth weighing both the salary levels and the opportunity scores in these areas, as high-scoring states and metros often pair stronger pay with notable employment levels for this occupation.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors have a national employment base of about 148,000 workers, indicating a sizable field. Projected growth of 0.9% suggests that employment is expected to edge upward rather than contract. In addition, approximately 17,000 annual openings are anticipated. This combination of a large workforce, modest projected growth, and substantial yearly openings points to a steady flow of opportunities over time. The uniform 0.9% growth rate reported for the top states and metro areas further indicates broadly consistent expectations across key regions. For job seekers and career changers, the volume of annual openings is particularly important, as it reflects ongoing hiring needs even when overall growth is measured. Those interested in this path can plan on a labor market that is not rapidly expanding but continues to generate regular chances to enter or advance within the occupation.
Location can make a significant difference for refuse and recyclable material collectors in terms of pay levels and overall opportunity. Among states, Washington leads with a median salary of $74,620 and an opportunity score of 56.29, while New York and California both offer median salaries around the mid-$60,000s and opportunity scores above 65. Massachusetts and Colorado also rank highly, combining mid- to upper-$50,000s and low-$60,000s median pay with solid opportunity scores. On the metro side, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $87,430, the highest among the listed areas. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ also posts a high opportunity score of 77.27 and a median salary of $65,310, with substantial employment at 13,310. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA and the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH metros provide additional options, each with distinct combinations of salary, employment size, and opportunity scores.
For refuse and recyclable material collectors, the typical education requirement is no formal educational credential. This can make the field accessible to individuals who prefer to enter the workforce directly rather than pursue extended schooling. However, success in this occupation draws on a broad set of skills. Physical strength and stamina are important, along with mechanical aptitude and fine motor skills. The role also benefits from customer service abilities and being detail oriented, which can support consistent, reliable work. Problem solving and decision making, leadership, and communication skills such as writing and reading further round out the skill profile. Familiarity with computers and information technology, as well as basic science knowledge, can also be valuable. People considering this career can focus on building these practical capabilities through experience and on-the-job learning, knowing that formal credentials are not a standard barrier to entry.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
