Jobs Similar to Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to refuse and recyclable material collectors, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors: $49,690 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 81% | $58,640+18% | High school |
| 2 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 79% | $49,8800% | High school |
| 3 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 79% | $60,600+22% | High school |
| 4 | Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation | 78% | $92,100Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 5 | Light Truck Drivers | 78% | $44,860−10% | High school |
| 6 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 78% | $47,730−4% | High school |
| 7 | Recycling and Reclamation WorkersSame group | 77% | $40,240Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 8 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 77% | $59,850+20% | High school |
| 9 | Tree Trimmers and Pruners | 77% | $50,960+3% | High school |
| 10 | Fallers | 77% | $52,100+5% | High school |
| 11 | Sailors and Marine Oilers | 77% | $51,520+4% | High school |
| 12 | Motorboat Operators | 77% | $47,520−4% | High school |
| 13 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | 76% | $46,960−5% | High school |
| 14 | Rock Splitters, Quarry | 76% | $48,740−2% | High school |
| 15 | Tire Repairers and Changers | 76% | $37,710−24% | High school |
| 16 | Logging Equipment Operators | 76% | $49,7400% | High school |
| 17 | Crane and Tower OperatorsSame group | 76% | $68,080+37% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Hoist and Winch OperatorsSame group | 76% | $56,450+14% | High school |
| 19 | Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentSame group | 76% | $35,830−28% | High school |
| 20 | Agricultural Equipment Operators | 76% | $41,730−16% | High school |
- 1Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
81% similar · $58,640 (+18%) · High school
- 2Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
79% similar · $49,880 (0%) · High school
- 3Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
79% similar · $60,600 (+22%) · High school
- 4Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
78% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · High school
- 5Light Truck Drivers
78% similar · $44,860 (−10%) · High school
- 6Helpers--Extraction Workers
78% similar · $47,730 (−4%) · High school
- 7Recycling and Reclamation Workers
77% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 8Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
77% similar · $59,850 (+20%) · High school
- 9Tree Trimmers and Pruners
77% similar · $50,960 (+3%) · High school
- 10Fallers
77% similar · $52,100 (+5%) · High school
- 11Sailors and Marine Oilers
77% similar · $51,520 (+4%) · High school
- 12Motorboat Operators
77% similar · $47,520 (−4%) · High school
- 13Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
76% similar · $46,960 (−5%) · High school
- 14Rock Splitters, Quarry
76% similar · $48,740 (−2%) · High school
- 15Tire Repairers and Changers
76% similar · $37,710 (−24%) · High school
- 16Logging Equipment Operators
76% similar · $49,740 (0%) · High school
- 17Crane and Tower Operators
76% similar · $68,080 (+37%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 18Hoist and Winch Operators
76% similar · $56,450 (+14%) · High school · Same group
- 19Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
76% similar · $35,830 (−28%) · High school · Same group
- 20Agricultural Equipment Operators
76% similar · $41,730 (−16%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than refuse and recyclable material collectors.
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers79% similar · $60,600 (+22%)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators77% similar · $59,850 (+20%)
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers81% similar · $58,640 (+18%)
- Hoist and Winch Operators76% similar · $56,450 (+14%)
- Fallers77% similar · $52,100 (+5%)
- Sailors and Marine Oilers77% similar · $51,520 (+4%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for refuse and recyclable material collectors also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where refuse and recyclable material collectors is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (85)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (83)
- Light Truck Drivers (82)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (79)
- Helpers--Extraction Workers (78)
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation (78)
- Fallers (77)
- Motorboat Operators (77)
- Sailors and Marine Oilers (77)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners (77)
Questions about jobs like refuse and recyclable material collectors
What jobs are most similar to refuse and recyclable material collectors?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (81% similar), Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (79% similar), Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (79% similar), Transportation Vehicle (78% similar) and Light Truck Drivers (78% similar).
Which jobs like refuse and recyclable material collectors pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Crane and Tower Operators ($68,080, +37%; usually training or an associate degree), Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers ($60,600, +22%; usually a high school diploma) and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators ($59,850, +20%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with refuse and recyclable material collectors ($49,690). Without more preparation than refuse and recyclable material collectors usually need: Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers, Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.