Transportation & material moving · SOC 53-7081
Refuse and recyclable material collectors
BLS projects 156,400 jobs in 2025 to become 159,600 by 2035 — +2.1%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+2.1%
projected change to 2035
About 3,200 more jobs
15,500
openings a year
9.9% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$49,690
median annual pay
Usually entered with: no formal educational credential
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment156,400
- 2035 projected159,600
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other transportation & material moving occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand2,940,300+1.8%
- Stockers and order fillers2,804,300+8.9%
- Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers2,221,200+3.8%
- Light truck drivers1,068,500+6.3%
- Industrial truck and tractor operators765,200+1.5%
- First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors621,500+3.0%
- Packers and packagers, hand555,500-5.0%
- Driver/sales workers442,900+7.9%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.