Trashmen, often known as garbage collectors, are a vital part of any community, and as a vital part of any community, you might wonder how much do trashmen make?
You might also wonder what their job looks like and which state pays them the most.
Well, according to Comparably, Trashmen gets paid 48% greater than the US average in San Francisco. Moving on we will see the salary of Trashmen in general.
So what is required of a Trashmen? The job necessitates a high level of physical stamina as well as the ability to operate infrequently under inclement circumstances.
Trash guys drive trucks, load rubbish, and bring refuse to certified waste depository sites or repositories for processing in rural regions or big cities.
Trash collectors, also known as garbage collectors, collect rubbish and recyclables from private residences and businesses and transport them to a landfill or transfer station.
They are frequently called upon to carry hefty loads. The driving of the collection vans is the responsibility of certain waste collectors.
Garbage collectors may utilize a hydraulic lift to extract waste from huge commercial trash receptacles.
Summary
| Guide | How Much Do Trashmen Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $43,020 per year |
| Highest Income | $75,000 annually |
| Education Qualification | Not needed |
| Training | Needed |
Who are Trashmen?
Garbage men’s main job is to drive or ride in a rubbish collecting truck along a predetermined route, picking up trash from homes and businesses.
Some garbage collection is automated, using electronic lifts for trash cans or dumpsters, while others must be taken and placed by hand.
Trash guys may also make special pickups as needed, such as construction site cleaning or requests for garbage, landscaping material, or heavy electronics or appliance removal from households and businesses.
In smaller towns, trash collectors may do double duty, collecting both rubbish and recyclables.
How Much Does Trashmen Make?
As of May 2019, an average annual salary of a garbage collector was $41,400, and garbage collectors earned an average hourly rate of $19.90 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Half of all garbage collectors earned between $28,880 and $50,240 per year.
Garbage collectors with the lowest pay reported yearly earnings of $22,780 or less, while those with the greatest pay reported annual earnings of $67,370 or more.
As of May 2019, about half of all garbage collectors worked in private waste collection services, with an average yearly wage of $39,590.
The majority of other garbage collectors directly worked in local governments and made somewhat more money, on average, $43,020 per year.
1. How Much Do Trashmen Make an Hour?
Trashmen make a minimum of $7.45 an hour and a maximum of $15.38 an hour.
2. How Much Do Trashmen Make a Month?
Trashmen make a minimum of $1,292 a month and a maximum of $2,667 a month.
3. How Much Do Trashmen Make a Year?
Trashmen make a minimum of $15,500 a year and a maximum of $32,000 a year.
Highest Salary Of Trashmen In 2023
Although rates vary according to region, there is not a great deal of variation in garbage guy income when compared to years of experience in the waste-collecting profession.
Trashmen who belong to unions usually earn more money and get raises on a regular basis.
Employees of the government are also more likely to be well compensated.
Those who want to advance through the ranks to management or leadership positions can also increase their earnings.
Looking at these stats and details, a trashman who has been in the industry and working for over 20 years could get up to $75,000 annually, and this is the highest pay a trashman generally makes on average.
As we have mentioned that there is not much of a gap among trashmen in their wages.
Is Being a Trashman Good Or Bad?
Trashmen. We’ve all seen them. We are aware of their essential responsibilities.
The major responsibility of a trashman is to collect trash along the allotted route and from businesses and houses by either riding on or driving a garbage truck.
Occasionally, they use automated garbage collection, in which the driver runs an electric lift that empties dumpsters or trash cans into the vehicle.
Occasionally, a worker must lift the receptacles and empty them into the truck by hand.
With all this, it is a pretty easy job that requires you to stand to the stink all day, take the risk of possible diseases you might encounter in the trash, and much other stuff, so there are a lot of risks involved in being a trashman and that is why we can’t say that being a trashman is a good job due to the risks involved in the job. Contracting diseases, getting sick, and many other things on a daily basis.
Pros and Cons of Being A Trashman
Pros
- You contribute the society
- Not stressful
- Do not need a college degree
- Work-life balance
- Do not have to sit in front of a computer
Cons
- Need to work even in extreme weather
- You will need a second job
- Low social standing
Also Read: How Much Do Detectives Make?
How To Become A Trashman?
Here’s how you can become a Trashman:
- In most cases, being a trash guy does not need anything more than high school graduation or equivalent.
- You will have to start working out as a Trashman; you will be required to pick up heavy waste.
- Obtain a driver’s license and maintain a good driving record.
- Those interested in starting their own garbage collection firm or moving into managerial positions might pursue training or education in business management or marketing.
- Now start applying for the position of Trashman.
How Many Hours Does Trashman Work?
Most Trashman works for 8-10 hours, and some also work for additional hours during early in the morning and late at night.
What is the Starting Pay of Trashman?
The starting pay of Trashman is $7.45 an hour or $1,292 a month, and even if you gain experience, $2,667 a month is the maximum amount you will make.
You might have to take some other job with this, as being just a Trashman will not cut it.
Trashman Training Programs
You can’t just walk into a trash truck and know what to do. You’ll need to go through specialist training.
Waste management service drivers must earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which necessitates attendance at a truck driver training school.
You’ll also need to be familiar with the automated equipment used to raise dumpsters and trash cans.
You are far more likely to find a job in the profession and earn a greater salary if you have the right training.
However, if you are not driving anything and just taking the trash from the streets and dumping it somewhere else, you might not need these at all as it does not require much training.
Most of the time, you learn on the job apart from the requirements for a driving license in general.
Conclusion
To sum up, being a trashman is hard. It has its risks, and you never know how much they make until you take a deep dive into their financials.
They do not earn too much, and there is not much difference between a newbie and experienced trashmen, but it is a job that has to be done, and if you are a part of this community, you can definitely get by with your earnings.
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FAQ
Can trashmen work as freelancers, and how much do trashmen make when they work as freelancers?
Depends. You might have a business on your own that you work with companies to collect their garbage every day, but it has its risks involved with finances.
And the money you earn changes substantially depending on how many clients you have.
Can you earn over the average highest salary, and how much do trashmen make in that case?
You might, but it is a really rare case when you are working with salary.
How much do trashmen make when they are young with experience?
With this job, it is not about your job but about your experience. If you have higher experience, you get a higher wage.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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