Hourly rates for local waste services in Australia vary, but generally fall between $27 to over $40 per hour, depending on the role (e.g., sorter, driver), experience, license (like HR), and location, with higher pay for truck drivers, specialized roles, or council positions, plus superannuation and potential overtime. Entry-level roles might start lower (around $27-$30), while licensed drivers can earn significantly more.
Garbage collectors (Recycling & Rubbish Collectors) in Australia earn an average of around $60,000 - $70,000 AUD annually, with hourly rates typically ranging from $30 to over $40, depending heavily on experience, overtime, location (city vs. regional), and if driving a truck (truck drivers earn more). Entry-level roles might start lower (around $50k), while experienced drivers can exceed $80,000+ with overtime, often working a 9-day fortnight.
High Paying Sanitation Jobs
Hitting the Road: Collecting the Community's Trash
Garbage collection is physically demanding work. Workers spend hours lifting heavy bins, handling large bags, and dealing with different types of waste.
How much does WM - Driving in the United States pay? Average WM hourly pay ranges from approximately $16.00 per hour for Delivery Driver to $39.20 per hour for Senior Driver. The average WM salary ranges from approximately $45,000 per year for Owner Operator Driver to $74,342 per year for Truck Driver.
Bin Man Driver Salary Breakdown
This translates to approximately £14.16 per hour, based on a standard 40-hour workweek. Junior drivers typically start with a salary close to £17,000 per year, while highly experienced drivers can earn up to £37,440 annually.
The average life expectancy of sanitation workers is estimated to be 40–45 years, significantly lower than the national average of 67.
A waste collector, also known as a garbage man, garbage collector, trashman (in the U.S), binman or dustman (in the UK), is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and dispose of municipal solid waste (refuse) and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial or other collection sites for ...
Did you know that being a garbage collector is one of the top 5 most dangerous jobs in America? With 41.4 fatalities per 100,000, we rank up to 28 times higher than the national average. Most incidents involve workers being struck or pinned by other vehicles; however, hazards are present everywhere.
Jobs paying $100k+ are common in tech, healthcare, finance, skilled trades (like electricians), management, and sales, often requiring specialized skills or experience in areas like data science, engineering, project management, or high-level sales, with roles like IT Manager, Financial Advisor, Physician, Pilot, or Sales Manager frequently listed, and some even achievable without a degree through certifications or apprenticeships.
Yes, $50 an hour ($98,800/year) is a very good wage in Australia, significantly above the average full-time earnings and offering a strong income for most lifestyles, common in skilled trades (electricians, plumbers) and professional roles, though living costs, especially housing in major cities, can influence its purchasing power.
Average Local Waste Services hourly pay ranges from approximately $18.09 per hour for Customer Service Representative to $30.32 per hour for Front Load Driver. The average Local Waste Services salary ranges from approximately $55,813 per year for Dispatcher to $92,648 per year for Diesel Mechanic.
Jobs paying $500k+ in Australia are primarily in highly specialized fields like Medical Specialists (surgeons, anaesthetists), Senior Finance/Executive Roles (CFO, Head of Treasury, Investment Directors), and high-end Sales & Construction Management (Elite Stockbrokers, Senior Project Managers/Estimators in complex sectors). While roles like Neurosurgeon and Ophthalmologist average well over $500k, achieving this in other sectors often involves performance-based bonuses or leading major projects, with opportunities listed on job boards like SEEK and Jora.
refuse collector (UK) sanitation engineer (euphemism) trashman (US, Canada) trash man.
However, given the dangers that sanitation workers face from oncoming vehicles, safety vests or shirts that command high visibility are worn as the outermost layer. In addition, pants and gloves prevent workers from coming into contact with chemicals and sharp objects in garbage bags.
Synonyms of garbage
Normally, plastic items can take up to 1000 years to decompose in landfills.
Occasionally Use Boiling Water
Remember when we said that hot water is not the best option for garbage disposal use? That remains true. However, if you are trying to wash away any excess food stuck in your system, a pot of boiling water down the drain once a month will do the job.
The highest-paid garbage truck drivers are often those working in specialized roles (like tanker or side-load trucks), for private companies offering significant overtime/bonuses, or in high-demand areas, with some experienced operators potentially earning well over $100,000 AUD annually with overtime, especially in Australia where rates like $74/hr or $130k+ base are advertised, while US figures vary but can also reach high figures, especially for oversized freight.
Garbage collectors (Recycling & Rubbish Collectors) in Australia earn an average of around $60,000 - $70,000 AUD annually, with hourly rates typically ranging from $30 to over $40, depending heavily on experience, overtime, location (city vs. regional), and if driving a truck (truck drivers earn more). Entry-level roles might start lower (around $50k), while experienced drivers can exceed $80,000+ with overtime, often working a 9-day fortnight.
How much does a 30 An Hour make in California? As of Jan 8, 2026, the average annual pay for a 30 An Hour in California is $304,439 a year.
Quick Answer: $33.65 Per Hour
A $70,000 annual salary equals $33.65 per hour in California before taxes. After federal and state deductions, your take-home pay ranges from $43,500 to $52,000 annually ($3,625-$4,333 monthly).