Solid Waste Landfill — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the solid waste landfill industry earns $88,032 per year ($42.32/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$88,032
Avg Annual Pay
38,516
Total Employees
1,705
Total Establishments
23
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Solid Waste Landfill Workers Earn?

At $88,032/year (equivalent to $42.32/hour for a full-time worker), solid waste landfill wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical solid waste landfill business employs 23 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

52.9%

For the average solid waste landfill business generating $3.8M/year with 23 employees at $88,032 each, total payroll represents roughly 52.9% of revenue. This is a labor-intensive industry — payroll is the dominant expense.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a solid waste landfillbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $114,442/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 23 employees = ~$2,024,736/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $42.32/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $3.8M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Solid Waste Landfill revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do solid waste landfill employees make?
The average solid waste landfill employee earns $88,032 per year, which is equivalent to $42.32/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the solid waste landfill industry?
The solid waste landfill industry employs 38,516 workers across 1,705 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 23 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).