53-7081.00

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.

9.0OUT OF 10SAFEHIGH RISK
High Risk

The bots have your desk already — start pivoting

Top 9% most at-risk occupations we track

Frey & Osborne (2013) estimated 93% probability of automation for this role
paper →
Top 9%
most at-risk
94
jobs riskier than this
+0.9%
projected growth

Disruption Vector

Disruption Type

Physical Robots

Physical robotics, autonomous machines, and automated equipment are the main threat to the physical tasks in this occupation.

Refuse and recyclable material collectors drive collection vehicles and physically handle waste containers in residential and commercial settings where automated side-loader trucks have already reduced crew sizes significantly. Bulk item pickup, contamination sorting, and navigation of urban route complexity retain human operators. The 2025-2027 outlook is modestly negative; route optimization AI and automated truck technology continue, though fully autonomous waste collection in urban environments remains a future-decade prospect.

Disrupted byBoston DynamicsAmazon RoboticsTesla Optimus

Salary & Job Outlook

Median Annual Pay
$48,350
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
10-Year Job Growth
+0.9%
Little or no change
Education Required
No formal educational credential
Job Zone 2 / 5

AI Risk Timeline

9.0
9.8
10.0
10.0
Today
5 Years
10 Years
20 Years

Projection model: Based on current AI capability growth rates. High-risk occupations are projected to see compounding automation pressure, while human-centric roles show slower risk accumulation. These are statistical projections, not guarantees.

Skills Analysis — AI Vulnerability

AI can replicate (0)
AI-resistant (1)
Mixed
Active Listening65%
Speaking60%
Coordination62%
Monitoring58%
Time Management55%

Career Pivot Paths

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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

9.0
/ 10
High Risk
90% automation risk

"Your job is so automatable, AI finished this analysis before you loaded the page."

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REFUSE AND RECYCLABLE MATERIAL COLLECTORS
9.0

/ 10

HIGH RISK

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You're more at risk than a Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (score: 1.5). Maybe it's time to rethink.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and is based on statistical models and academic research. It does not constitute career advice and is not a guarantee of future employment outcomes. AI impact varies significantly by employer, region, and individual circumstances. Learn about our methodology →