How to Become a Garbage Man

Updated November 3, 2026. Rules checked against the Code of Federal Regulations, FMCSA and O*NET.

To become a garbage man, be at least 18, pass the employer's hiring checks and learn the route on the job. You only need a commercial driver's license (CDL) if you will drive the truck.

What does a garbage man do?

A garbage man collects trash, recycling or yard waste from homes and businesses and hauls it to a transfer station, landfill or recycling center. O*NET lists the core tasks for refuse collectors: inspect the truck before the route, drive set routes through neighborhoods and business areas, run the automated arm that lifts carts and bins, climb off and back on the truck to load by hand, and dump each load at a disposal site (O*NET). On trucks with a helper, the driver handles the wheel and the helper, a job O*NET also lists as swamper, does the loading. See what employers want today in current garbage man jobs.

What are the requirements to become a garbage man?

The federal floor is short. You must be 18 to work as an outside helper on a truck on public roads, since the Department of Labor lists that job as hazardous for 16 and 17 year olds (29 CFR 570.52). Most employers also want a high school diploma or GED, though O*NET notes that some do not (O*NET). Expect to lift heavy containers and work outside in all weather.

Drivers face more rules. They need the right CDL class, a medical examiner's certificate issued within the past 24 months (49 CFR 391.45), a passed drug test before driving (49 CFR 382.301) and a clean query of the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (49 CFR 382.701). To drive across state lines they must be 21 and able to read and speak English well enough to do the job (49 CFR 391.11).

How do you become a garbage man, step by step?

1. Check that you meet the age rule: 18 to ride on the truck, 21 to drive across state lines.
2. Finish high school or earn a GED, since most employers ask for one.
3. Apply for helper or collector openings. Listings that say no CDL is required are the easiest door in.
4. Pass the employer's screening. Drivers take a federal pre-employment drug test, and employers can screen helpers under their own policy.
5. Learn the route. O*NET puts on-the-job training for collectors at anywhere from a few days to a year.
6. Move up to driving with a CDL if you want the higher-paid seat. Some employers pay for it, so look for waste jobs with paid training.

Do you need a CDL to be a garbage man?

Not to start. The federal CDL rule covers the person who operates a commercial motor vehicle (49 CFR 383.23), so a helper who never drives does not need one. City jobs can set a higher bar: New York City requires a New York State Class A or B CDL by the date a sanitation worker is appointed (DSNY). Our guide on whether you need a CDL to drive a garbage truck covers the classes and the air brake restriction.

Once you hold the license, browse garbage truck driver jobs.

How long does it take to become a garbage man?

A helper can start work as soon as the hiring checks clear, then learns on the route. Getting a CDL adds time: you must hold a commercial learner's permit for at least 14 days before the skills test (49 CFR 383.25), and since February 7, 2022 a first Class A or B license requires entry-level driver training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (FMCSA). How long the training takes depends on the school.

How much do garbage men make?

The BLS figures cover helpers and collection drivers together. For CDL truck drivers in general, the national median was $28.19 an hour (BLS via O*NET). Pay varies by state and by union contract, so compare the rate in each listing. The garbage man salary guide has the median for every state, and the garbage truck driver salary guide covers drivers.

Is being a garbage man hard?

It is physical and risky work. BLS counted a fatal injury rate of 37.4 per 100,000 full-time refuse collectors in 2024, against 3.3 for all workers (BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries). Traffic, heavy lifting and weather are part of the job. The waste collection safety statistics page has the full data.

What is the job outlook for garbage men?

Steady, not fast. O*NET reports 156,400 refuse collector jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 1% to 2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than average (O*NET). Short-term work comes up too, from seasonal garbage collector jobs to part-time routes.

How do you spot a fake garbage job offer?

Real waste employers do not charge you to apply or to start. The FTC warns that a job that asks you to pay for training, equipment or a promise of work is a scam sign (FTC). Apply through the employer's own careers page or a listing that links to it, and check city jobs on the city's website. To compare more openings, browse current sanitation jobs.