How Much Does a Garbage Man Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$49,690
Garbage men in the U.S. earn a median of $49,690 a year, or $23.89 an hour. Half of garbage men earn more than $49,690 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $75,900.
Pay percentiles for garbage men
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16.15 | $33,590 |
| 25th | $18.79 | $39,080 |
| 50th (median) | $23.89 | $49,690 |
| 75th | $29.82 | $62,020 |
| 90th | $36.49 | $75,900 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (SOC 53-7081). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for garbage men
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $75,050 | $36.08 | +51% |
| Washington | $74,620 | $35.88 | +50% |
| New York | $64,950 | $31.23 | +31% |
| California | $64,890 | $31.20 | +31% |
| Oregon | $63,210 | $30.39 | +27% |
| Minnesota | $62,570 | $30.08 | +26% |
| Nevada | $61,310 | $29.47 | +23% |
| Delaware | $61,290 | $29.47 | +23% |
| Colorado | $60,310 | $29.00 | +21% |
| Wisconsin | $59,810 | $28.76 | +20% |
| United States | $49,690 | $23.89 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many garbage men are there?
BLS counts about 147,240 garbage men employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors”. The most jobs are in California (13,930), Texas (12,860) and Florida (11,650).
The mean (average) annual wage is $52,820, higher than the median of $49,690.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,141
- Biweekly
- $1,911
- Weekly
- $956
- Daily (8 hours)
- $191
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do garbage men make an hour?
The median hourly wage for garbage men is $23.89. The middle 50% earn between $18.79 and $29.82 an hour.
Which state pays garbage men the most?
Illinois has the highest median wage for garbage men at $75,050, +51% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for garbage men?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of garbage men earn less than $33,590 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.