Garbage man salary in Australia: award rates and minimum pay 2026-27

Garbage man salary: the legal minimum

When searching for a "garbage man salary" in Australia, the first figure to understand is the legal minimum. Most garbage collectors are covered by the Waste Management Award 2020, which sets minimum pay rates for the waste management industry. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the award and its pay guide, and the Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage that acts as a backstop.

Award rates for garbage collectors

The Waste Management Award 2020 classifies employees from Level 1 (entry-level) up to Level 9. A typical garbage collector or waste operative is usually classified at Level 1 or Level 2. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum weekly and hourly rates (including the industry allowance) are:

• Level 1: $1,143.98 per week / $30.11 per hour (full-time and part-time)
• Level 2: $1,168.48 per week / $30.75 per hour

Casual employees receive a 25% loading: Level 1 casual $37.64 per hour, Level 2 casual $38.44 per hour.

These rates are higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). The award also includes penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work, overtime, and shift allowances.

How the national minimum wage applies

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) is the floor for award-free employees. However, because the waste management industry is covered by a modern award, the award rates are the legal minimum for most garbage collectors. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate, but not lower.

Superannuation is on top

All minimum rates quoted are before tax and do not include superannuation. Employers must pay super guarantee of 12% on ordinary time earnings. For a Level 1 full-time garbage collector earning $1,143.98 per week, the employer contributes an additional $137.28 per week to the employee's super fund. This is not taken from the employee's pay.

Junior and supported wage rates

If a garbage collector is under 21 and not covered by the award's junior rates (the award has its own junior percentages), the award-free junior rates may apply. Under the national minimum wage order, juniors receive a percentage of the adult rate. For example, a 19-year-old award-free employee gets 82.5% of $26.44, or $21.82 per hour. However, the Waste Management Award has its own junior scale (70% for under 19, 80% for 19, 100% for 20). Always check the award first.

Comparing to average earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings across all industries were $2,083.70 per week in May 2026. That is higher than the award minimum for a garbage collector, but it is an average across all occupations and experience levels. There is no publicly available survey specifically for "garbage man salary" from the ABS or ATO, so the award rate remains the most reliable benchmark.

What if my employer uses an enterprise agreement?

Some waste management companies have enterprise agreements that set pay rates above the award. You can check if your employer has a registered agreement on the Fair Work Commission website. The agreement must pass the better-off-overall test, meaning the employee is better off than under the award.

Need more help?

See our Which minimum wage applies guide to check if you are covered by an award, or visit our Rate tables for a full breakdown of award and national minimum rates.

Three key takeaways

1. The legal minimum for a garbage man covered by the Waste Management Award 2020 is $30.11 per hour (Level 1 full-time) from July 2026.
2. Casual garbage collectors get a 25% loading, making the minimum $37.64 per hour.
3. Superannuation of 12% is paid by the employer on top of these rates.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.