How To Become A Sanitation Worker: What It Is and Career Path

What is a sanitation worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A sanitation worker collects, transports, and disposes of waste. They work in residential areas, commercial establishments, and public spaces. The job requires physical labor, as sanitation workers lift and carry heavy garbage bags or bins. They also operate machinery such as garbage trucks and compactors. In addition to waste collection, sanitation workers may also clean streets and sidewalks, maintain equipment, and respond to customer inquiries. Sanitation workers contribute to public health and safety.

ScoreSanitation WorkerUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,159

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.7

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.33%

Asian 4.92%

Black or African American 12.16%

Hispanic or Latino 21.13%

Unknown 4.13%

White 56.33%

Gender

female 17.90%

male 82.10%

Age - 51

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51

Stress Level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

9.1

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Sanitation Worker?

Pros

Decent pay and benefits
Job security
Opportunities for overtime pay
Opportunities to work independently
Opportunities for advancement

Cons

Exposure to unpleasant smells, waste, and hazardous materials
Work may be performed in extreme weather conditions
May require working early mornings, late nights, or weekends
Limited opportunities for social interaction with co-workers or customers
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in the job

Key steps to become a sanitation worker

Explore sanitation worker education requirements

Most common sanitation worker degrees

High School Diploma

61.1 %

Diploma

16.7 %

Associate

10.5 %

Start to develop specific sanitation worker skills

Skills	Percentages
Cleanliness	13.85%
Pallet Jack	12.70%
Food Safety	10.52%
Safety Standards	8.59%
Production Equipment	4.62%

Complete relevant sanitation worker training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sanitation workers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sanitation worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sanitation worker resumes.

Research sanitation worker duties and responsibilities

Operate a forklift for logistic, to manage and relocate BMW's fixture material.
Use power equipment such as floor sweepers, vacuums, scrubbers, mops, power washers.
Maintain cleanliness of entire facility according to OSHA and FDA regulations
Drive heavy equipment with CDL'S.

Prepare your sanitation worker resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sanitation worker resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a sanitation worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Sanitation Worker Resume templates

Build a professional Sanitation Worker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Sanitation Worker resume.

Apply for sanitation worker jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a sanitation worker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do sanitation workers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Sanitation Worker reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

I take detailed time into making sure ever surface is sanitized.

Cons

Gragber removal , human waste removal and sewage removal,