Refuse and salvage occupations: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time refuse and salvage occupations in the UK earned a median £27,857 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 29% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (60th from the bottom).
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £25,803 and £31,223.
Median full-time pay: women £21,129 a year, men £27,961 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 28,000 employee jobs, 93% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 32.0% (from £21,110), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 30,800 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £23,786 | £477.20 | £12.38 | £20,279* | £461.10 | £12.38 |
| 20th percentile | £25,274 | £493.70 | £12.66 | £24,773 | £486.70 | £12.67 |
| 25th percentile | £25,803 | £497.10 | £12.82 | £25,389 | £494.00 | £12.86 |
| 30th percentile | £26,180 | £506.30 | £13.01 | £25,858 | £497.70 | £13.04 |
| 40th percentile | £26,924 | £514.30 | £13.26 | £26,651 | £511.30 | £13.26 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £27,857 | £531.10 | £13.67 | £27,576 | £526.00 | £13.69 |
| 60th percentile | £28,875 | £556.00 | £14.00 | £28,592 | £549.80 | £14.11 |
| 70th percentile | £30,284 | £588.70 | £14.41 | £29,827 | £578.80 | £14.54 |
| 75th percentile | £31,223 | £616.40 | £14.80 | £30,865 | £606.70 | £15.08 |
| 80th percentile | £32,659 | £652.50 | £15.23 | £32,436 | £647.90 | £15.66 |
| Mean | £28,641 | £579.40 | £14.24 | £27,939 | £564.70 | £14.32 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £21,110 | £414.30 | £10.34 | £21,003 | £408.60 | 24 |
| 2022 revised | £22,067 | £415.80 | £10.80 | £21,929 | £409.60 | 20 |
| 2023 revised | £24,594 | £464.50 | £11.92 | £24,184* | £461.30 | 23 |
| 2024 revised | £26,283 | £513.30 | £13.21 | £26,080 | £508.50 | 21 |
| 2025 provisional | £27,857 | £531.10 | £13.67 | £27,576 | £526.00 | 28 |
Refuse and salvage occupations by region
UK: 30,800 (± 6,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What refuse and salvage occupations do
Refuse and salvage collectors supervise and undertake the collection and processing of refuse from household, commercial and industrial premises. (ONS SOC 2020, 9225)
Also covers: binman (local government: cleansing department), dustman, hopper attendant (refuse destruction), recycling operative, refuse collector, salvage worker, bin lifter, bin man, cleansing inspector, cleansing superintendent, district foreman, dust collector, estate officer, estates officer, hopper attendant, landfill operative, paper recycler and recycling operator (42 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Rides in or on refuse vehicle and alights to pick up domestic refuse
- Carries waste material in dustbins or other containers from premises to refuse vehicle
- Empties refuse into vehicle manually or using an electronic tipping device
- Returns dustbins or other containers to premises
- Collects scrap metal, salvage, paper and other recyclable material from domestic and industrial premises, and sorts material in preparation for recycling
- Attends the operation of refuse tips, supervises the use of public refuse disposal facilities, and compacts and covers up refuse at landfill sites
No academic qualifications are required. Training is provided on-the-job. A minimum age limit of 18 years normally applies.
Related
Elementary cleaning occupations (median £25,303) · Launderers, dry cleaners and pressers · Vehicle valeters and cleaners · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026