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Skilled Trades

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

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

Median salary (BLS)

$49,690

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$34k – $76k

Job outlook

+1% (about average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

    Entry / Junior

    $33,590

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

    Established

    $49,690

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

    Senior

    $62,795

Key skills

A typical day

  • 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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.