Have you ever wondered about a garbage truck driver’s salary? How much do you think they receive for dedication, strength, and consistency?
Garbage truck drivers are in charge of collecting waste from both residential and commercial areas. They load, transfer, and dump rubbish into larger trucks or bins that will eventually be moved to a landfill or recycling center using specialized equipment.
While on the job, garbage truck drivers must adhere to strict safety regulations, including wearing seatbelts at all times, keeping in allocated lanes, and observing traffic laws.
This article will look at a garbage truck driver’s salary.
Table of contents
- What Does A Garbage Truck Driver Do?
- How Much Does A Garbage Truck Driver Make?
- What Are The 10 Highest Paying Cities For Garbage Truck Driver Jobs?
- What Are The 5 Best Paying Related Garbage Truck Driver Jobs In The U.S?
- What Influences A Garbage Truck Driver’s Salary?
- FAQ’s
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
What Does A Garbage Truck Driver Do?
The garbage truck driver’s job is to collect rubbish from residential and commercial areas. They examine and repair them to guarantee that trucks and equipment are safe and reliable, and finally move the garbage to landfills or recycling facilities.
They load and unload rubbish using a front-end loader truck with mechanical arms. However, the driver often must manually load the trash into the truck. They may also be required to report sanitary issues to fix them.
A valid driver’s license and high school graduation are essential requirements. A garbage truck driver must be familiar with their route. Also, they must be compliant with safety regulations and have excellent customer service abilities.
How Much Does A Garbage Truck Driver Make?
According to Ziprecruiter, a garbage truck driver’s average annual salary in the United States is $41,794 as of June 10, 2023.
That is approximately $20.09 per hour, $804 weekly, and $3,483 monthly.
While garbage truck drivers’ annual salaries range from $33,500 to $48,000 on ZipRecruiter, most Garbage truck drivers’ salaries currently range from $33,500 to $48,000, with top earners making $56,500 annually across the United States.
The typical compensation for a garbage truck driver varies substantially, implying that there may be several prospects for growth and increased pay depending on skill level, region, and years of experience.
Read also: Train Driver Salary in 2023 | How Much Does a Train Driver Make?
What Is A Garbage Truck Driver’s Average Salary By State?
Here are the different average salaries, hourly rates, and job counts of garbage truck drivers by state:
| State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
| Alabama | $36,785 | $17.69 | 5,101 |
| Alaska | $58,775 | $28.26 | 86 |
| Arizona | $48,728 | $23.43 | 4,884 |
| Arkansas | $37,571 | $18.06 | 4,117 |
| California | $54,165 | $26.04 | 30,980 |
| Colorado | $45,985 | $22.11 | 3,310 |
| Connecticut | $58,814 | $28.28 | 1,618 |
| Delaware | $57,039 | $27.42 | 1,848 |
| District of Columbia | $53,943 | $25.93 | 235 |
| Florida | $32,901 | $15.82 | 5,868 |
| Georgia | $37,282 | $17.92 | 12,523 |
| Hawaii | $57,757 | $27.77 | 64 |
| Idaho | $38,953 | $18.73 | 1,399 |
| Illinois | $41,979 | $20.18 | 20,492 |
| Indiana | $40,644 | $19.54 | 10,621 |
| Iowa | $38,928 | $18.72 | 5,410 |
| Kansas | $40,815 | $19.62 | 5,544 |
| Kentucky | $33,979 | $16.34 | 7,073 |
| Louisiana | $39,909 | $19.19 | 4,962 |
| Maine | $43,246 | $20.79 | 683 |
| Maryland | $46,661 | $22.43 | 5,983 |
| Massachusetts | $62,220 | $29.91 | 2,350 |
| Michigan | $42,780 | $20.57 | 7,349 |
| Minnesota | $44,285 | $21.29 | 5,302 |
| Mississippi | $40,180 | $19.32 | 3,817 |
| Missouri | $36,097 | $17.35 | 8,638 |
| Montana | $38,910 | $18.71 | 698 |
| Nebraska | $38,915 | $18.71 | 2,829 |
| Nevada | $54,138 | $26.03 | 1,503 |
| New Hampshire | $53,499 | $25.72 | 668 |
| New Jersey | $59,024 | $28.38 | 3,254 |
| New Mexico | $44,749 | $21.51 | 2,164 |
| New York | $58,846 | $28.29 | 9,067 |
| North Carolina | $46,677 | $22.44 | 9,469 |
| North Dakota | $42,173 | $20.28 | 357 |
| Ohio | $43,962 | $21.14 | 22,248 |
| Oklahoma | $43,182 | $20.76 | 4,916 |
| Oregon | $47,154 | $22.67 | 2,534 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,583 | $26.24 | 13,420 |
| Rhode Island | $57,961 | $27.87 | 624 |
| South Carolina | $38,895 | $18.70 | 7,982 |
| South Dakota | $37,253 | $17.91 | 530 |
| Tennessee | $40,449 | $19.45 | 7,424 |
| Texas | $44,761 | $21.52 | 14,952 |
| Utah | $42,286 | $20.33 | 1,804 |
| Vermont | $45,424 | $21.84 | 511 |
| Virginia | $50,771 | $24.41 | 8,883 |
| Washington | $49,310 | $23.71 | 3,240 |
| West Virginia | $42,240 | $20.31 | 4,136 |
| Wisconsin | $38,251 | $18.39 | 5,643 |
| Wyoming | $48,231 | $23.19 | 548 |
What Are The 10 Highest Paying Cities For Garbage Truck Driver Jobs?
According to Ziprecruiter, there are some cities where the average wage for a garbage truck driver is higher than the national average. San Francisco, CA is at the top of the list, with Fremont, CA and San Jose, CA coming in second and third, respectively.
San Jose, CA, outperforms the national average by $5,919 (14.2%), while San Francisco, CA, outperforms the national average by another $8,833 (21.1%).
With average incomes higher than the national average in these cities, the potential for economic success appears to be extremely promising.
Finally, the average income in these top ten cities changes by 9% between San Francisco, CA, and Barnstable Town, MA, indicating little room for salary advancement.
Like most other jobs, when comparing location and compensation for a Garbage Truck Driver job, the possibility of a cheaper cost of living may be the essential factor to consider.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| San Francisco, CA | $50,627 | $4,219 | $974 | $24.34 |
| Fremont, CA | $49,366 | $4,114 | $949 | $23.73 |
| San Jose, CA | $47,713 | $3,976 | $918 | $22.94 |
| Oakland, CA | $47,239 | $3,937 | $908 | $22.71 |
| Jackson, WY | $47,111 | $3,926 | $906 | $22.65 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | $46,387 | $3,866 | $892 | $22.30 |
| Hayward, CA | $46,339 | $3,862 | $891 | $22.28 |
| Seattle, WA | $46,097 | $3,841 | $886 | $22.16 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,978 | $3,832 | $884 | $22.10 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $45,957 | $3,830 | $884 | $22.09 |
At least five jobs in the garbage truck driver-category pay more yearly than the average garbage truck driver’s wage. Independent truck driver, TEAM truck driver, and Company truck drivers are just some of these jobs.
These professions pay between $32,372 (77.5%) and $53,192 (127.3%) more than the average garbage truck driver income of $41,794.
So, if you meet the qualifications, applying for one of these related garbage truck driver jobs could help you earn more money than the average garbage truck driver.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Independent Truck Driver | $94,986 | $7,916 | $1,827 | $45.67 |
| TEAM Truck Driver | $90,414 | $7,534 | $1,739 | $43.47 |
| Company Truck Driver | $81,968 | $6,831 | $1,576 | $39.41 |
| CDL TEAM Truck Driver | $77,172 | $6,431 | $1,484 | $37.10 |
| Oil Field Truck Driver | $74,166 | $6,180 | $1,426 | $35.66 |
Read also: Mailman Salary 2023 | How Much Does Mailman Make?
What Influences A Garbage Truck Driver’s Salary?
A garbage truck driver’s salary is decided by various factors such as experience, location, and company. Let’s see how these factors impact the salary.
Experience
Salary increases usually depend on your level of experience. The longer the years you work, the more money you may anticipate making.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey, your garbage truck driver’s salary depends on your experience.
| Level of experience | Salary |
| Entry-level (less than 1 year) | $30,751 |
| Early career (1 to 4 years) | $37,474 |
| Mid-career (5 to 9 years) | $47,197 |
| Experienced (10 to 19 years) | $58,986 |
| Late career (20+ years) | $77,302 |
Location
The amount of money you can make as a garbage truck driver is also influenced by where you reside. Working in a large metropolitan location is usually associated with a higher wage and, of course, a higher cost of living.
FAQ’s
According to Ziprecruiter, a garbage truck driver’s average annual salary in the United States is $41,794 as of June 10, 2023.
A garbage truck driver’s salary is influenced by various factors such as experience, location, and company.
These jobs pay more per year than the average garbage truck driver’s wage:
Independent Truck Driver
TEAM Truck Driver
Company Truck Driver
CDL TEAM Truck Driver
Oil Field Truck Driver
According to Ziprecruiter, these cities’ average wages for garbage truck drivers are higher than the national average:
San Francisco, CA
Fremont, CA
San Jose, CA
Oakland, CA
Jackson, WY
Sunnyvale, CA
Hayward, CA
Seattle, WA
Vallejo, CA
Barnstable Town, MA
Conclusion
The garbage truck driver’s salary is impressive if you want to explore this career path. You also have a chance to grow your compensation if you strengthen your skills by improving your map reading, time management, and vehicle maintenance.
References
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