How much does a Waste Operative make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Waste Operative in the United States is $55,514 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.
However, a Waste Operative's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,701
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,417 to $62,940
Key Factors That Influence Waste Operative Salaries
A Waste Operative'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 Waste Operative Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Waste Operative'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:
How Do Waste Operative 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 Waste Operatives. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $61,465.
California: $61,232.
Massachusetts: $60,416.
District of Columbia$61,465
California$61,232
Massachusetts$60,416
Washington$60,194
New Jersey$60,172
Alaska$60,094
Connecticut$59,328
New York$59,017
Hawaii$58,023
Rhode Island$57,557
Maryland$57,240
Minnesota$56,807
Colorado$56,641
Illinois$56,585
Oregon$56,374
Delaware$56,219
New Hampshire$56,121
Virginia$55,903
Pennsylvania$55,264
Nevada$54,942
North Dakota$54,837
Michigan$54,670
Wisconsin$54,609
Vermont$54,487
Texas$54,148
Maine$54,126
Arizona$54,093
Ohio$54,054
Georgia$53,543
Indiana$53,288
Wyoming$53,238
Utah$53,160
Iowa$53,127
Kansas$52,860
Louisiana$52,783
North Carolina$52,755
Missouri$52,744
Florida$52,527
Montana$52,411
Nebraska$52,300
Kentucky$52,239
South Carolina$52,017
Tennessee$51,878
Idaho$51,822
New Mexico$51,417
Oklahoma$51,328
Alabama$51,001
South Dakota$50,451
Arkansas$50,151
West Virginia$49,990
Mississippi$49,507
Top Paying Cities for Waste Operatives
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: $70,020
San Francisco: $69,253
Oakland: $67,794
San Jose, CA$70,020
San Francisco, CA$69,253
Oakland, CA$67,794
New York, NY$63,918
Paramus, NJ$63,141
Queens Village, NY$63,138
Passaic, NJ$63,086
Bergenfield, NJ$63,081
Stamford, CT$62,958
Huntington, NY$62,936
Newark, NJ$62,525
Bridgeport, CT$62,408
Vallejo, CA$62,298
New Brunswick, NJ$62,276
Petaluma, CA$62,242
Middlesex, NJ$62,137
Somerset, NJ$62,098
Santa Cruz, CA$62,026
Boston, MA$61,687
Monterey, CA$61,492
Seattle, WA$61,365
Santa Rosa, CA$61,354
Los Angeles, CA$61,337
Juneau, AK$61,193
Washington, DC$61,132
Orange, CA$60,934
Santa Ana, CA$60,788
Long Beach, CA$60,732
Anaheim, CA$60,721
Anchorage, AK$60,693
Santa Maria, CA$60,527
Everett, WA$60,516
Danbury, CT$60,320
Bremerton, WA$60,244
Tacoma, WA$60,044
New Suffolk, NY$60,043
Sacramento, CA$60,027
Santa Barbara, CA$59,966
Trenton, NJ$59,905
San Diego, CA$59,905
Brockton, MA$59,844
Fairbanks, AK$59,708
Lompoc, CA$59,567
Lowell, MA$59,522
Ventura, CA$59,511
Nashua, NH$59,500
Stockton, CA$59,494
Modesto, CA$59,089
Poughkeepsie, NY$58,967
Olympia, WA$58,861
Kennewick, WA$58,861
New Haven, CT$58,839
Lawrence, MA$58,639
Hartford, CT$58,584
Riverside, CA$58,573
New Bedford, MA$58,517
Richland, WA$58,517
Bakersfield, CA$58,440
San Bernardino, CA$58,417
New Britain, CT$58,412
Atlantic City, NJ$58,412
New London, CT$58,390
Norwich, CT$58,373
Portsmouth, NH$58,362
Boulder, CO$58,244
Portland, OR$58,168
Worcester, MA$58,162
Minneapolis, MN$57,990
Philadelphia, PA$57,912
Honolulu, HI$57,729
Saint Paul, MN$57,702
Vineland, NJ$57,690
Providence, RI$57,529
Chicago, IL$57,368
Bellingham, WA$57,302
Springfield, MA$57,257
Baltimore, MD$57,240
Chico, CA$57,102
Pittsfield, MA$56,952
Manchester, NH$56,846
Spokane, WA$56,602
Denver, CO$56,597
Albany, NY$56,336
Troy, NY$56,313
Nassau, NY$56,254
Schenectady, NY$56,197
Wilmington, DE$56,152
Burlington, VT$56,075
Salem, OR$56,052
Portland, ME$55,880
Yakima, WA$55,825
Rochester, MN$55,653
Reno, NV$55,625
Fresno, CA$55,625
Milwaukee, WI$55,575
Detroit, MI$55,520
Ann Arbor, MI$55,510
Allentown, PA$55,503
Colorado Springs, CO$55,409
Syracuse, NY$55,381
Carson City, NV$55,381
Houston, TX$55,303
Eugene, OR$55,275
Gary, IN$55,209
Springfield, OR$55,164
Bismarck, ND$55,153
Galveston, TX$55,114
Medford, OR$55,031
Fort Collins, CO$55,009
Concord, NH$54,981
Austin, TX$54,964
Mesa, AZ$54,848
Reading, PA$54,842
Phoenix, AZ$54,837
Dallas, TX$54,820
Saint Cloud, MN$54,767
Madison, WI$54,692
Utica, NY$54,543
Rochester, NY$54,454
Des Moines, IA$54,448
Raleigh, NC$54,443
Atlanta, GA$54,359
Battle Creek, MI$54,343
Salt Lake City, UT$54,326
Lancaster, PA$54,243
Harrisburg, PA$54,165
Kansas City, MO$54,109
Champaign, IL$54,098
Kansas City, KS$54,098
Fort Worth, TX$54,093
Columbus, OH$54,083
Boca Raton, FL$54,071
Pittsburgh, PA$54,048
Richmond, VA$54,026
Indianapolis, IN$54,015
Cleveland, OH$54,010
Las Vegas, NV$53,943
Cincinnati, OH$53,943
Petersburg, VA$53,860
Huntsville, AL$53,776
Lansing, MI$53,739
Lebanon, PA$53,732
Pueblo, CO$53,726
Appleton, WI$53,710
Buffalo, NY$53,688
Dayton, OH$53,671
Racine, WI$53,660
Charlotte, NC$53,654
Saint Louis, MO$53,638
York, PA$53,604
Elkhart, IN$53,604
Gastonia, NC$53,594
Billings, MT$53,580
Beaumont, TX$53,565
Lorain, OH$53,554
Benton Harbor, MI$53,543
Toledo, OH$53,532
Binghamton, NY$53,504
Rock Hill, SC$53,499
Rockford, IL$53,471
Springfield, IL$53,449
Elyria, OH$53,443
Fargo, ND$53,443
Flagstaff, AZ$53,404
Fort Lauderdale, FL$53,371
Duluth, MN$53,338
Miami, FL$53,338
Cheyenne, WY$53,299
Grand Forks, ND$53,299
Bangor, ME$53,177
Cedar Rapids, IA$53,116
Durham, NC$53,092
Louisville, KY$53,088
Grand Rapids, MI$53,077
Hialeah, FL$53,071
Casper, WY$52,994
Scranton, PA$52,927
New Orleans, LA$52,910
Virginia Beach, VA$52,905
Akron, OH$52,877
Peoria, IL$52,805
Sarasota, FL$52,794
Nashville, TN$52,755
Omaha, NE$52,755
Green Bay, WI$52,755
Baton Rouge, LA$52,727
Charleston, SC$52,716
Jamestown, NY$52,688
Davenport, IA$52,688
Tucson, AZ$52,661
Saint Petersburg, FL$52,627
Tampa, FL$52,616
Evansville, IN$52,583
Port Arthur, TX$52,583
Bradenton, FL$52,561
Santa Fe, NM$52,461
Orlando, FL$52,361
Clearwater, FL$52,344
Canton, OH$52,228
La Crosse, WI$52,228
Albuquerque, NM$52,194
Newport News, VA$52,189
High Point, NC$52,172
Ogden, UT$52,150
Corpus Christi, TX$52,105
Norfolk, VA$52,072
Laramie, WY$52,072
Rock Island, IL$52,039
Saginaw, MI$52,028
Jacksonville, FL$52,022
Salisbury, NC$52,011
Boise, ID$52,000
Moline, IL$51,972
Fort Myers, FL$51,956
Memphis, TN$51,944
Tulsa, OK$51,917
Waterloo, IA$51,883
Spartanburg, SC$51,828
Lincoln, NE$51,800
Fort Wayne, IN$51,789
Provo, UT$51,783
Cedar Falls, IA$51,717
San Antonio, TX$51,695
Greensboro, NC$51,672
South Bend, IN$51,667
Savannah, GA$51,606
Muskegon, MI$51,584
Birmingham, AL$51,578
Winston Salem, NC$51,551
Lake Charles, LA$51,417
Anderson, IN$51,406
Lexington, KY$51,389
Augusta, GA$51,373
Greenville, SC$51,373
Lima, OH$51,328
Wichita, KS$51,323
Tuscaloosa, AL$51,323
Columbia, SC$51,273
Springfield, OH$51,262
Asheville, NC$51,173
Bloomington, IN$51,134
Knoxville, TN$50,934
Shreveport, LA$50,929
Wilmington, NC$50,856
Roanoke, VA$50,856
Topeka, KS$50,756
Frankfort, KY$50,750
Oklahoma City, OK$50,712
Chillicothe, OH$50,690
Longview, TX$50,684
Melbourne, FL$50,679
Sioux Falls, SD$50,590
Mobile, AL$50,584
Terre Haute, IN$50,562
Altoona, PA$50,529
Amarillo, TX$50,490
Killeen, TX$50,473
Fayetteville, AR$50,429
Chattanooga, TN$50,412
Sioux City, IA$50,362
Idaho Falls, ID$50,351
Lynchburg, VA$50,307
Gainesville, FL$50,235
Portsmouth, OH$50,207
Little Rock, AR$50,196
Lafayette, LA$50,174
Youngstown, OH$50,174
Daytona Beach, FL$50,140
Clarksville, TN$50,135
Pensacola, FL$50,129
Temple, TX$50,125
Hopkinsville, KY$49,963
Erie, PA$49,951
Florence, SC$49,929
Charleston, WV$49,840
Great Falls, MT$49,813
Macon, GA$49,735
Tallahassee, FL$49,729
Fayetteville, NC$49,718
Waco, TX$49,707
Helena, MT$49,668
Pine Bluff, AR$49,647
Vincennes, IN$49,580
Lubbock, TX$49,557
Alamogordo, NM$49,524
Twin Falls, ID$49,474
Rapid City, SD$49,457
Jackson, MS$49,357
Huntington, WV$49,354
Greenville, MS$49,352
Parkersburg, WV$49,295
Montgomery, AL$49,285
Wichita Falls, TX$49,230
Springfield, MO$49,230
Biloxi, MS$49,202
Monroe, LA$49,147
Johnstown, PA$49,108
Sumter, SC$49,085
Columbus, GA$49,080
Pascagoula, MS$48,974
Abilene, TX$48,974
Kingsport, TN$48,830
Albany, GA$48,830
Gulfport, MS$48,813
Alexandria, LA$48,630
Fort Smith, AR$48,491
El Paso, TX$48,342
Las Cruces, NM$48,092
Harlingen, TX$47,951
Pocatello, ID$47,942
Florence, AL$47,870
Brownsville, TX$47,859
Mcallen, TX$47,742
Dothan, AL$47,664
Columbus, MS$47,335
Altus, OK$47,076
Lawton, OK$46,970
Pierre, SD$46,771
What Skills Can Increase a Waste Operative's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.3% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Plumbing (Mentioned in 3.58% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
Material Handling (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the protection, storage, and control of materials throughout their manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Material handling can be used to create time and place utility through the handling, storage, and control of material, as distinct from manufacturing, which creates form utility by changing the shape, form, and makeup of material.
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 Waste Operative's salary.
Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Waste Operative Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Waste Operative roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the MFG Nondurable and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average.
In contrast, Waste Operative positions in Retail & Wholesale or Aerospace & Defense typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Waste Operative as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Waste Operative
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable
$69,392
$33.0
25%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$66,617
$32.0
20%
MFG Durable
$63,841
$31.0
15%
Biotechnology
$61,065
$29.0
10%
Energy & Utilities
$58,290
$28.0
5%
How Education impacts a Waste Operative's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Waste Operatives enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Waste Operative with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$53,721
and $58,696).
Waste Operative Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Waste Operative'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$49,417
Average$55,514/year
$62,940
$4,118
Average$4,626/month
$5,245
$950
Average$1,068/week
$1,210
$24
Average$27/hour
$30
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$62,940
$5,245
$1,210
$30
Average
$55,514
$4,626
$1,068
$27
25th Percentile
$49,417
$4,118
$950
$24
Salaries of Jobs related to Waste Operative
Pre-Operative Nurse$120,108
RN Pre Operative$90,472
Logistics Operative$87,645
Production Operative$60,514
Hygiene Operative$53,451
Waste Coordinator$45,102
Maintenance Operative$44,168
Assembly Operative$43,925
Waste Collector$39,926
Warehouse Operative$37,135
Stockroom Operative$28,367
Salary Trends for Waste Operative
Salaries for a Waste Operative can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $45,304 in 2023
to around $45,508 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Waste Operative salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Waste Operative Over Time
$???
$45,304
$45,590
$45,508
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$45,304
2024
$45,590
2025
$45,508
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Waste Operative
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Waste Operative
Here are companies hiring for Waste Operative and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Waste Operative
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Waste Operative?
The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Waste Operative roles,
with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.
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.
