Solid Waste Landfill Revenue Benchmarks
The average solid waste landfill business in the United States generates $3.8M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 690 solid waste landfill businesses in the U.S., employing 22,302 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $88K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Solid Waste Landfill Business Actually Do?
Landfill operators disposing of municipal solid waste and specialty waste under EPA and state regulation.
Who buys: Municipal waste haulers, commercial haulers, contractors bringing C&D debris.
Average Revenue
$3.8M
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$118K
per year
Total Businesses
690
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$306K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$88K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Solid Waste Landfill Charge?
Landfill operators charge tipping fees per ton for waste disposal.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
MSW tipping fee (per ton) | $35–120/ton |
C&D tipping fee (per ton) | $25–90/ton |
Special waste (per ton) | $75–500+/ton |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete solid waste landfill business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a solid waste landfill business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the solid waste landfill industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $7 | $283K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $2.1M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $212K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $142K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $20 | $778K | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $306K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
8.39%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.15%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+0.92%
annual
Businesses Closed
154
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Solid Waste Landfill Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
6 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a solid waste landfill business do?
- Landfill operators disposing of municipal solid waste and specialty waste under EPA and state regulation. Municipal waste haulers, commercial haulers, contractors bringing C&D debris.
- How much do solid waste landfill charge?
- Landfill operators charge tipping fees per ton for waste disposal. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average solid waste landfill make per year?
- The average solid waste landfill business generates $3.8M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $306K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many solid waste landfill businesses are there in the US?
- There are 690 solid waste landfill businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 22,302 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a solid waste landfill business?
- Startup costs for a solid waste landfill business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the solid waste landfill industry?
- The average employee in the solid waste landfill industry earns $88K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The solid waste landfill industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 0.9%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 8.4% and 6.1% respectively.
Approximately 73% of solid waste landfill businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 154 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the solid waste landfill industry earns $88,032/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 1,705 establishments employing 38,516 people, the typical business has about 23 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The solid waste landfill industry has grown 6% since 2000 (from 1,417 to 1,503 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Solid Waste Landfill revenue with other industries: