CDL Driver Salary
Salary Breakdown
CDL Driver Pay Per Hour
A cdl driver in waste management earns an average of $26.50 per hour. The table below converts every annual figure on this page to an hourly, weekly and monthly equivalent at a standard 2080-hour work year (40 hours a week, 52 weeks), so you can compare an hourly job posting directly against an advertised annual salary.
| Level | Per Hour | Per Week | Per Month | Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $18.27 | $731 | $3,167 | $38,000 |
| Low end | $19.23 | $769 | $3,333 | $40,000 |
| Average | $26.50 | $1,058 | $4,583 | $55,000 |
| High end | $35.10 | $1,404 | $6,083 | $73,000 |
| Senior / top of scale | $37.50 | $1,500 | $6,500 | $78,000 |
Hourly, weekly and monthly columns are calculated from the annual figures in this guide (annual ÷ 2080 hours, ÷ 52 weeks and ÷ 12 months). They describe base pay only. Overtime, shift differentials and bonuses are not included.
Top Paying Cities
| City | State | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York | NY | $68,000 |
| Los Angeles | CA | $64,000 |
| Seattle | WA | $62,000 |
| Chicago | IL | $59,000 |
| Denver | CO | $57,000 |
About This Role
CDL drivers in the waste management industry operate collection trucks along designated routes to pick up residential and commercial waste. They are responsible for safe vehicle operation, route completion, and ensuring proper disposal at transfer stations or landfills. Many drivers also handle automated and manual loading of waste containers.
Key Skills
Certifications
Entry-Level Pay and Getting Hired With No Experience
You cannot drive a collection truck without a Class B CDL, but you do not need prior waste-industry experience to get hired. Many haulers and municipalities run paid CDL training or tuition-reimbursement programs and recruit directly from their own helper and laborer ranks, so the common no-experience route into this job is to start as a helper and earn the licence on the payroll.
Entry-level pay for this role starts around $38,000 a year, about $18.27 an hour, or roughly $3,167 a month before overtime. That is $17,000 below the national average for the role, which is the gap experience, certifications and location close over time.
Other waste management roles that regularly hire without prior industry experience: Recycling Sorter ($16.50/hr), Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician ($30.00/hr), Hazmat Waste Handler ($25.00/hr) and Sales / Account Manager ($33.00/hr).
See entry-level cdl driver jobs hiring now →Part-Time CDL Driver Work
Most collection driving is full-time on a fixed route, but part-time and weekend work does exist: roll-off and transfer-station relief driving, Saturday commercial routes, and casual or extra-board slots at municipal departments that cover absences. These are usually paid at the same hourly rate as full-time routes rather than a reduced one.
Because part-time schedules in this role are normally paid at the same hourly rate as full-time ones, the $26.50 average hourly figure above is the right number to plan against. Multiply it by the hours you expect rather than scaling down the $55,000 annual figure, which assumes a full 2080-hour year.
Waste management roles with the most part-time and weekend availability: Recycling Sorter ($16.50/hr), Helper / Laborer ($15.50/hr) and Admin / Office ($20.00/hr).
Search part-time cdl driver jobs →Union Pay Scale for CDL Drivers
Collection drivers are one of the most heavily unionised roles in the industry. Teamsters locals represent drivers at many private haulers, and municipal sanitation drivers are typically covered by a public-sector contract. Where a collective bargaining agreement applies, pay follows a published wage scale with fixed progression steps rather than individual negotiation, and the scale, shift premiums and overtime rules are set out in the local contract. Ask the local for the current rate sheet, since scales differ by local and expire on their own schedule.
One important caveat: the figures on this page are national averages across union and non-union employers alike. They are not a union wage scale. Actual scale rates are set contract by contract and local by local, they change when an agreement is renegotiated, and the only authoritative source is the current agreement itself. Request it from the local or the employer’s HR department before you rely on a number.
Other commonly unionised waste management roles: Recycling Sorter, Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician and Helper / Laborer.
Job Outlook
Demand for CDL drivers in waste management remains strong due to consistent residential and commercial waste collection needs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady growth as municipalities expand services and experienced drivers retire. Competitive pay and signing bonuses are increasingly common to attract qualified candidates.
CDL Driver Jobs Hiring Now
- ROLLOFF DRIVER CLASS BFull-TimePro_demo_site_dev · Apopka, FL
- Roll-Off Truck Driver, Starts ImmediatelyFull-TimeH & D Rosetto, Inc · Township of Jackson, NJ
- AC Sweepers is Hiring Now for Night-time Sweeper Drivers, Day PortersFull-TimeAC Sweepers & Maintenance · Morrow, GA
- Driver - CDL (B)Full-TimeRepublic Services · Tulsa, OK
- Truck Driver - CDL (B)Full-TimeRepublic Services · Bettendorf, IA
CDL Driver Career Path & Salary Expectations
A career as a cdl driver in the waste management industry offers a clear trajectory from entry-level positions starting around $38,000 per year to senior roles earning $78,000 or more annually. With the national average sitting at $55,000 ($26.50/hr), professionals in this field can expect competitive compensation that grows with experience, certifications, and geographic location. Top-paying markets like New York offer salaries as high as $68,000. Whether you are just entering the waste and recycling industry or looking to advance your career, investing in relevant skills and certifications is the most reliable path to higher earning potential in this essential and growing sector.
Put another way, the average works out to about $26.50 an hour, $1,058 a week or $4,583 a month on a full 2080-hour year, before the overtime, shift premiums and bonuses covered above. To compare this role against the rest of the industry, see the full waste management salary guide, or go straight to cdl driver openings and every waste management job on the board.