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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Texas
Want to work as a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Texas? Here’s what the data says. Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
What do Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Make in Texas?
For a refuse and recyclable material collectors working in Texas, the typical annual salary is $45,710 per year (or roughly $21.98/hour).Annual wages span from $32,870 at the 10th percentile to $56,360 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,870 | $15.81 |
| 25th percentile | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| Median (50th) | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| 75th percentile | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| 90th percentile | $56,360 | $27.10 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Texas nationwide is 0.86, suggesting fewer refuse and recyclable material collectors per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, refuse and recyclable material collectors earn a median of $34,777 per year ($16.72/hour), higher than the Texas median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 620,047 refuse and recyclable material collectors across the United States. In Texas alone, approximately 10,720 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 2,030 refuse and recyclable material collectors.
Top Texas Metros for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
The largest metro-area employers of refuse and recyclable material collectors in Texas.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,520 | $47,050 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,420 | $45,480 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,040 | $48,690 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,020 | $48,650 |
| El Paso, TX | 300 | $36,190 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 240 | $47,620 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 200 | $47,050 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 180 | $36,870 |
| Laredo, TX | 160 | $38,270 |
| Amarillo, TX | 150 | $43,050 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 140 | $40,090 |
| Tyler, TX | 130 | $45,100 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 120 | $30,370 |
| Midland, TX | 100 | $54,020 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 100 | $41,310 |
| Longview, TX | 90 | $38,520 |
| Odessa, TX | 90 | $45,350 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 80 | $38,960 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 60 | $46,790 |
| Waco, TX | 60 | $49,160 |
| Lubbock, TX | 50 | $38,510 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 40 | $33,420 |
| Victoria, TX | 40 | $45,650 |
Top States for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Employment
View the states that employ the most refuse and recyclable material collectors work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 13,240 |
| New York | 11,240 |
| Texas | 10,720 |
| Florida | 9,690 |
| North Carolina | 6,460 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,800 |
| Ohio | 5,000 |
| Illinois | 4,940 |
| Georgia | 4,790 |
| New Jersey | 4,710 |
| Washington | 3,890 |
| Virginia | 3,720 |
| Michigan | 3,680 |
| Colorado | 3,410 |
| Indiana | 2,980 |
| Maryland | 2,710 |
| Tennessee | 2,630 |
| South Carolina | 2,600 |
| Minnesota | 2,260 |
| Louisiana | 2,200 |
Highest-Paying States for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
These states pay the most for refuse and recyclable material collectors.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $71,440 |
| Nevada | $65,440 |
| New York | $64,550 |
| Illinois | $61,880 |
| California | $61,650 |
| Minnesota | $61,630 |
| Oregon | $61,040 |
| Colorado | $60,610 |
| Wisconsin | $60,390 |
| Massachusetts | $59,540 |
Skills
The most important refuse and recyclable material collectors skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for refuse and recyclable material collectors, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, refuse and recyclable material collectors typically:
- 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.
- Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse.
- Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, or other maintenance problems.
- Check road or weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected.
- Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed.
- Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted.
Work Activities
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved:
- AMCS Platform (analytical or scientific software)
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS (facilities management software)
- Dossier software (data base user interface and query software)
- Fleet management software (materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software)
- Global positioning system GPS software (mobile location based services software)
- Mileage logging software (data base user interface and query software)
- Payroll software (time accounting software)
- Routeware software (map creation software)
- Squeegee (cloud-based data access and sharing software)
- WAM software (compliance software)
Related Careers
Other careers like refuse and recyclable material collectors include:
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Also Known As
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.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 53-7081.00
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