The average salary for a garbage collector in Washington is around $74,620 per year.
Avg Salary
Garbage collectors earn an average yearly salary of $74,620.
Wages typically start from $54,070 and go up to $88,990.
11% below national average Updated in 2025
Garbage collector earnings by seniority
Top-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$42.79 per hour
$88,990 per year
Senior-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$38.82 per hour
$80,750 per year
Mid-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$35.88 per hour
$74,620 per year
Junior-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$29.66 per hour
$61,700 per year
Starting level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$25.99 per hour
$54,070 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Garbage collector salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $75,050 |
| Washington | $74,620 |
| New York | $64,950 |
| California | $64,890 |
| Oregon | $63,210 |
| Minnesota | $62,570 |
| Nevada | $61,310 |
| Delaware | $61,290 |
| Colorado | $60,310 |
| Wisconsin | $59,810 |
| Utah | $59,310 |
| North Dakota | $59,000 |
| Indiana | $58,900 |
| Hawaii | $56,270 |
| Rhode Island | $55,970 |
| District of Columbia | $55,490 |
| New Jersey | $54,630 |
| Vermont | $51,960 |
| Michigan | $51,030 |
| Massachusetts | $50,310 |
| Missouri | $50,010 |
| Idaho | $49,880 |
| Iowa | $49,850 |
| Montana | $49,420 |
| Nebraska | $49,390 |
| Ohio | $49,330 |
| Wyoming | $48,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,240 |
| Florida | $47,820 |
| New Mexico | $47,660 |
| Georgia | $46,960 |
| Arizona | $46,910 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 |
| Virginia | $46,530 |
| Texas | $46,330 |
| Alabama | $46,240 |
| Alaska | $45,740 |
| Kansas | $45,510 |
| North Carolina | $44,670 |
| Maine | $43,360 |
| Tennessee | $43,270 |
| Kentucky | $43,100 |
| Oklahoma | $43,060 |
| Maryland | $41,870 |
| Mississippi | $39,170 |
| Louisiana | $38,810 |
| Connecticut | $38,220 |
| West Virginia | $35,840 |
| Arkansas | $35,640 |
| South Carolina | $34,880 |
| South Dakota | $32,950 |
| Guam | $19,930 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,530 |
How do garbage collector salaries compare to similar careers?
Garbage collectors earn about the same as related careers in Washington. On average, they make less than drug & alcohol counselors but more than sign language interpreters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Drug & alcohol counselor salary | $69K |
| Family social worker salary | $74K |
| Meter reader salary | $66K |
| Landscaper salary | $72K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $70K |
| Garbage collector salary | $75K |
| Private detective salary | $64K |
| Event planner salary | $66K |
| Wedding planner salary | $66K |
| Sign language interpreter salary | $62K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)