Career Overview
Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
Also Known As
- Garbage Man
- Roll Off Truck Driver
- Sanitation Laborer
- Trash Collector
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
- Garbage Pick Up Man
- Garbage Pick Up Worker
- Garbage Worker
- Junkman
- Limb Driver
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
- Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
- Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
- Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.
- Fill out defective equipment reports.
- Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
- Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Multilimb Coordination
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Static Strength
- Trunk Strength
- Reaction Time
- Manual Dexterity
- Oral Comprehension
- Far Vision
- Near Vision
- Extent Flexibility
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Tools & Equipment
- Aluminum compactors
- Cardboard compactors
- Desktop computers
- Front loading garbage trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Grapple trucks
- Lifting arms
- Mobile radios
- Personal computers
- Pneumatic collection garbage trucks
- Rear-loading garbage trucks
- Recycling trucks
- Shredder trucks
- Side-loading garbage trucks
- Tractor-trailer trucks
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Exposed to Contaminants
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $31,810 |
| Median | $48,350 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $75,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 139,180
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Recycling and Reclamation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,940
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $48,490
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $57,440
Recycling Coordinators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: Varies
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,070
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.