Solid Waste Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Solid Waste Manager make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Solid Waste Manager in the United States is $119,303 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

However, a Solid Waste Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $154,493
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107,425 to $137,723
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,611
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View as table View as graph 25% $107,425 10% $96,611 90% $154,493 75% $137,723 $119,303 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Solid Waste Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $137,723 $11,477 $2,649 $66
Average $119,303 $9,942 $2,294 $57
25th Percentile $107,425 $8,952 $2,066 $52
Check out Solid Waste Manager Job Openings in the United States
Program Manager Environmental&amp Waste Management

Centrus Energy Corp. - Piketon, OH

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Columbus Equipment Company - Massillon, OH

Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Columbus Equipment Company - Cadiz, OH

Fleet Mechanic

Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) - Grove City, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Solid Waste Manager Salaries

A Solid Waste Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Solid Waste Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Solid Waste Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $113,635
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $114,153
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,361
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,086
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,657
Levels Salary
Entry Level Solid Waste Manager$113,635
Intermediate Level Solid Waste Manager$114,153
Senior Level Solid Waste Manager$115,361
Specialist Level Solid Waste Manager$117,086
Expert Level Solid Waste Manager$120,657
$113,635 0 yr
$114,153 < 2 yrs
$115,361 2-4 yrs
$117,086 5-8 yrs
$120,657 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Solid Waste Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Solid Waste Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $132,092.
  • California: $131,591.
  • Massachusetts: $129,837.

Top Paying Cities for Solid Waste Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $150,477
  • San Francisco: $148,998
  • Oakland: $145,693

What Skills Can Increase a Solid Waste Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 15.11% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 2.01% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 0.13% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 15.11%
Economics 2.01%
Packaging 0.13%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Solid Waste Manager's salary.
  • Waste Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Schematic: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Waste Management
$137,198
15%
Project Management
$133,619
12%
Schematic
$133,619
12%
Environmental Science
$133,619
12%
Motivating
$133,619
12%
Economics
$131,233
10%
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How Education impacts a Solid Waste Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Solid Waste Managers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Solid Waste Manager with a Associate's Degree is between $108,578 and $121,239).

Solid Waste Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Solid Waste Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 21.6%
Associates 8.8%
Bachelors 47.1%
Masters 18.6%
Doctorate 2.9%
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Solid Waste Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Solid Waste Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Solid Waste Manager

Salaries for a Solid Waste Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $106,648 in 2023 to around $105,180 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Solid Waste Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Solid Waste Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$106,648
2024
$105,944
2025
$105,180
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $106,648
2024 $105,944
2025 $105,180
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Solid Waste Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Solid Waste Manager

Here are companies hiring for Solid Waste Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Solid Waste Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Solid Waste Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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