Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in North Carolina
Thinking about a career as a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
What do Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Make in North Carolina?
The refuse and recyclable material collectors working in North Carolina, wages run about $40,500 per year (or roughly $19.47/hour).Earnings range from $24,310 at the 10th percentile to $55,780 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $24,310 | $11.69 |
| 25th percentile | $31,160 | $14.98 |
| Median (50th) | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| 75th percentile | $48,890 | $23.51 |
| 90th percentile | $55,780 | $26.82 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina compared to the national average — is 1.46, indicating that refuse and recyclable material collectors are more concentrated here 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 North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 620,047 refuse and recyclable material collectors nationwide. In North Carolina alone, about 6,460 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 2,030 refuse and recyclable material collectors.
Top North Carolina Metros for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
The largest metro-area employers of refuse and recyclable material collectors in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,840 | $49,000 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 640 | $47,420 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 480 | $39,950 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 450 | $42,000 |
| Asheville, NC | 230 | $44,220 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 230 | $45,020 |
| Wilmington, NC | 200 | $45,890 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 180 | $33,010 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 110 | $37,700 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 100 | $25,520 |
| Greenville, NC | 90 | $39,700 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 80 | $38,300 |
| Burlington, NC | 70 | $40,030 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 60 | $30,230 |
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
Key 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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