The average salary for a garbage collector in Tennessee is around $43,270 per year.
Avg Salary
Garbage collectors earn an average yearly salary of $43,270.
Wages typically start from $28,390 and go up to $61,400.
32% below national average Updated in 2025
Garbage collector earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$29.52 per hour
$61,400 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$27.56 per hour
$57,330 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$20.80 per hour
$43,270 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$17.03 per hour
$35,410 per year
10th percentile
Starting level garbage collector earnings begin at:
$13.65 per hour
$28,390 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Garbage collector salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $75,050 |
| Washington | $74,620 |
| New York | $64,950 |
| California | $64,890 |
| Oregon | $63,210 |
| Minnesota | $62,570 |
| Nevada | $61,310 |
| Delaware | $61,290 |
| Colorado | $60,310 |
| Wisconsin | $59,810 |
| Utah | $59,310 |
| North Dakota | $59,000 |
| Indiana | $58,900 |
| Hawaii | $56,270 |
| Rhode Island | $55,970 |
| District of Columbia | $55,490 |
| New Jersey | $54,630 |
| Vermont | $51,960 |
| Michigan | $51,030 |
| Massachusetts | $50,310 |
| Missouri | $50,010 |
| Idaho | $49,880 |
| Iowa | $49,850 |
| Montana | $49,420 |
| Nebraska | $49,390 |
| Ohio | $49,330 |
| Wyoming | $48,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,240 |
| Florida | $47,820 |
| New Mexico | $47,660 |
| Georgia | $46,960 |
| Arizona | $46,910 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 |
| Virginia | $46,530 |
| Texas | $46,330 |
| Alabama | $46,240 |
| Alaska | $45,740 |
| Kansas | $45,510 |
| North Carolina | $44,670 |
| Maine | $43,360 |
| Tennessee | $43,270 |
| Kentucky | $43,100 |
| Oklahoma | $43,060 |
| Maryland | $41,870 |
| Mississippi | $39,170 |
| Louisiana | $38,810 |
| Connecticut | $38,220 |
| West Virginia | $35,840 |
| Arkansas | $35,640 |
| South Carolina | $34,880 |
| South Dakota | $32,950 |
| Guam | $26,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,140 |
How do garbage collector salaries compare to similar careers?
Garbage collectors earn about the same as related careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than event planners but more than upholsterers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Event planner salary | $52K |
| Wedding planner salary | $52K |
| Optician salary | $50K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $45K |
| Professional painter salary | $43K |
| Garbage collector salary | $43K |
| Printing worker salary | $43K |
| Exterminator salary | $40K |
| Engraver salary | $38K |
| Upholsterer salary | $38K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)