Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

53-7081 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

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

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2025

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	2,260	163	$28.17/hr	$20.44/hr	$24.21/hr	$30.02/hr	$31.83/hr	$34.57/hr

Leading Industries for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Manufacturing	N/A	N/A
Professional and Business Services	2,000	$30.27/hr
Public Administration	260	$23.61/hr

Other Regional Data for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northeast Balance of State	40	$21.61/hr	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	50	$24.25/hr	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	60	$29.96/hr	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	80	$28.46/hr	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	80	$25.32/hr	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	90	$27.96/hr	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	100	$25.62/hr	N/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA	110	$29.56/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	140	$26.34/hr	9.0%
Southeast Minnesota	160	$25.62/hr	7.4%
Southwest Balance of State	160	$29.52/hr	N/A
Northwest Balance of State	220	$23.60/hr	N/A
Southwest Minnesota	230	$27.55/hr	7.3%
Northwest Minnesota	260	$24.08/hr	5.9%
Central Minnesota	340	$30.05/hr	9.8%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	1,100	$31.63/hr	4.2%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	1,330	$31.60/hr	N/A
Minnesota	2,260	$30.02/hr	5.6%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Light Truck Drivers	18,650	$23.11/hr	9.1%
Tree Trimmers and Pruners	140	$33.26/hr	N/A
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	38,530	$29.76/hr	5.8%

Task for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
Organize schedules for refuse collection.
Fill out defective equipment reports.
Provide quotes for refuse collection contracts.
Make special pickups of recyclable materials, such as food scraps, used oil, discarded computers, or other electronic items.
Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
Sort items set out for recycling and throw materials into designated truck compartments.
Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted.
Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.