There are currently an estimated 146,400 garbage collectors in the United States. The garbage collector job market is expected to grow by 3.2% between 2022 and 2032.
How employable are garbage collectors?
CareerExplorer rates garbage collectors with a C employability rating, meaning this career should provide moderate employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 12,300 garbage collectors. That number is based on 4,700 additional garbage collectors, and the retirement of 7,600 existing garbage collectors.
What’s the supply of garbage collectors?
The garbage collector industry is concentrated in California, New York, Texas
Garbage Collector job market by state
| State Name | Employed Garbage Collectors |
|---|---|
| California | 13,020 |
| New York | 8,900 |
| Texas | 8,440 |
| Florida | 5,540 |
| Ohio | 4,850 |
| North Carolina | 4,430 |
| Michigan | 4,400 |
| Illinois | 4,210 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,170 |
| Virginia | 3,400 |
| Georgia | 3,320 |
| Tennessee | 2,550 |
| Maryland | 2,540 |
| Arizona | 2,270 |
| Indiana | 2,240 |
| South Carolina | 2,180 |
| Oregon | 2,090 |
| Alabama | 2,080 |
| Colorado | 2,040 |
| Missouri | 1,980 |
| Wisconsin | 1,980 |
| Washington | 1,960 |
| New Jersey | 1,910 |
| Puerto Rico | 1,900 |
| Kentucky | 1,740 |
| Minnesota | 1,550 |
| Massachusetts | 1,550 |
| Oklahoma | 1,540 |
| Arkansas | 1,450 |
| Louisiana | 1,410 |
| Iowa | 1,270 |
| Kansas | 1,260 |
| Connecticut | 1,180 |
| Mississippi | 1,060 |
| Nebraska | 1,010 |
| West Virginia | 1,000 |
| Utah | 830 |
| New Hampshire | 800 |
| Maine | 790 |
| District of Columbia | 680 |
| Hawaii | 640 |
| New Mexico | 550 |
| Delaware | 490 |
| Vermont | 410 |
| Montana | 410 |
| Idaho | 380 |
| South Dakota | 380 |
| Rhode Island | 340 |
| North Dakota | 320 |
| Wyoming | 280 |
| Alaska | 220 |