How much does a garbage collector make?

In the United States, experience and a CDL or other needed driving skills can affect pay, and employers and local areas may pay differently. Longer hours, overtime, and night or weekend shifts can change total earnings.

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

What's a typical day like?

They follow a route to homes or businesses, lifting bins by hand or using the truck’s hydraulic lift to empty trash and recycling into the truck. Then they haul the load to a dump, landfill, or recycling center.

A high school diploma or GED is useful, though some jobs may not require one; new workers learn on the job. If you drive a truck that requires a CDL, pass written, skills, and vision tests; federal rules require age 21 for interstate driving, while local rules vary.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.

In the U.S., refuse and recyclable material collectors are among the occupations with the highest injury and illness rates, so safe habits matter.

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.