You’ve seen them at 4:00 AM, hanging off the back of a truck in a sideways sleet storm while the rest of the city is buried under three blankets. It’s a job everyone notices but nobody really talks about—until the trash starts piling up on the curb. People always whisper about "the big bucks" those guys make. But honestly, if you're looking for the truth about how much does a garbage man make in New York, the answer is a lot more complicated than a single number on a paycheck. It’s a world of "steps," "charts," and grueling overtime that can turn a modest base salary into a six-figure life.
The Reality of the DSNY Pay Scale in 2026
Let’s get the dry stuff out of the way first. If you’re working for the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), your pay is dictated by a rigid union contract. As of early 2026, a fresh recruit—someone who just finished their training at "Flower Hill"—starts with a base salary of $44,821.
That’s not a lot of money to live in the five boroughs. Not even close.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The NYC sanitation pay structure is designed like a mountain climb. You don't stay at that entry-level rate for long. There are automatic raises baked into the contract at the six-month mark, and then every year after that. By the time a worker hits the 5.5-year mark, that base salary jumps to $92,093.
The Hidden Boosters
Base pay is just the floor. Most guys never actually take home just their base pay. There are all these "add-ons" that stack up:
- Annuity Contributions: The city puts money into a fund for you, which increased by about $261 recently thanks to the 2022-2027 contract.
- Shift Differentials: Working the "night owl" shift? You get a percentage bump.
- Longevity Pay: Stay for 10, 15, or 20 years, and you get an extra annual check just for not quitting.
Why the "Six-Figure Garbage Man" Isn't a Myth
You’ve probably heard stories about sanitation workers clearing $150,000 or even $180,000. It happens. But those guys aren't lucky; they're exhausted.
Overtime (OT) is the lifeblood of the DSNY. When a snowstorm hits New York, the department switches to "Emergency 12s"—12-hour shifts, seven days a week. During those weeks, a worker might be pulling in double-time for Sundays or time-and-a-half for anything over 40 hours. If it’s a particularly snowy winter, a veteran worker at top pay can easily add $30,000 to $50,000 to their gross income just from plowing.
There's also "Chart Days." In DSNY lingo, your "chart" is your day off. If the department is short-staffed and asks you to work your chart day, you're usually looking at double-time pay. Some guys live for those calls. Others value their sleep more. It's a trade-off.
Private vs. Public: The Great Divide
When people ask how much does a garbage man make in New York, they usually mean the city workers in the white trucks. But there's a whole different army out there.
Private carters—the ones in the green or orange trucks that handle commercial trash for restaurants and office buildings—operate in a totally different world. Honestly, it's often tougher. While unionized private workers (often Teamsters Local 813) have decent protections, many non-union private haulers make significantly less than their DSNY counterparts.
In 2026, the average salary for a private trash collector in the NY metro area hovers around $53,132.
The gap is huge. A private loader might top out at $65,000, while a DSNY worker is just getting started at that point. Plus, the private side rarely offers the "half-pay pension after 22 years" deal that makes the city job so coveted.
The "Golden" Benefits Package
You can't talk about the money without talking about the "hidden" wealth. NYC sanitation workers get unlimited sick leave. Think about that for a second. If you're seriously injured—which happens a lot in a job involving heavy machinery and New York traffic—you don't lose your house.
Then there’s the pension. After 22 years of service, you can retire with a pension worth 50% of your final average salary. For a worker who retires at top pay with plenty of overtime in their "final average" years, that could mean a guaranteed $50,000 to $70,000 a year for the rest of their life.
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Is the Pay Worth the Physical Toll?
It’s not just "throwing bags." It’s the knees. It’s the lower back. It’s the constant risk of being hit by a distracted driver on the BQE.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently ranks refuse collection as one of the most dangerous jobs in America. You’re exposed to hazardous materials, sharp glass, and every weather extreme New York can throw at you. In July, the back of that truck feels like an oven. In January, it's a freezer.
How to Actually Get the Job
If the $100k+ potential sounds good, don't quit your day job just yet. Getting into the DSNY is harder than getting into Harvard. Seriously.
- The Exam: The civil service exam only happens every 4 to 6 years. About 90,000 people typically take it.
- The Score: You basically need a perfect score (plus veteran or residency credits) to even be considered in the first few years of the list.
- The Physical: You have to pass a "superman" test—moving heavy bins and simulating the actual pace of a route.
- The Wait: Even with a great score, people often wait 4 or 5 years to get the call.
Actionable Steps for Aspiring Workers
If you're serious about chasing that NYC sanitation salary, you need to be proactive. Waiting for the exam isn't enough.
- Get your CDL now: You need a Class A or B Commercial Driver's License with a "Tanker" endorsement and no air brake restrictions. Don't wait for the city to call you to get this; have it ready.
- Establish Residency: You get extra points on the exam if you live in the five boroughs. In a competitive civil service environment, those 5 points are the difference between being #500 on the list and #15,000.
- Monitor the DCAS Website: The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) posts the "Notice of Examination." If you miss the filing window, you're stuck waiting another half-decade.
The path to making a six-figure salary as a garbage man in New York is long and physically demanding. It starts with a low-paying apprenticeship on the streets and ends with a solid pension, provided your body holds up. It’s a career built on grit, overtime, and the peculiar rhythm of a city that never stops making a mess.