Shigoto Zukan
日本語

How to become ごみ収集作業員education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Cleaning & Building Services Confidence ★★★★★

Average annual pay
¥3.99M
≈ $25,348
Top pay (est.)
¥6.50M
Top 10% ¥5.66M
Pay in 5 years
¥4.66Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥5.44Mest.
¥4.68M–¥6.32M
Outlook score
58/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
9%
Very low
Labor demand
Average
Openings-to-applicants 1.22x

How to become ごみ収集作業員

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
入職にあたって、特に学歴や資格は必要とされない。自治体の場合は採用にあたって年齢制限などの基準を設けていることもある。また、普通自動車免許が必要とされる場合もある。入職経路は、新規学卒だけでなく、他の職業からの転職者も多い。
　自治体に勤務する場合、経験を積んで技能主任、技能長などになると、作業計画の立案や職員の指導、住民への説明等といった仕事を担当することが多い。
　仕事を行う上で、きれいな街づくりを積極的に進めようという奉仕的精神が求められる。また、屋外作業であり、ごみを収集車に積み上げたり、重量のある粗大ごみを取り扱うこともあるため一定の体力が必要である。

Skills, education and requirements for ごみ収集作業員

Key skills

Instructing
2.6
Active Listening
2.3
Speaking
2.3
Reading Comprehension
2.2
Equipment Maintenance
2.1
Writing
2.0
Coordination
2.0
Social Perceptiveness
1.9

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Transportation
0.6
Customer and Personal Service
0.6
Sociology and Anthropology
0.5
Public Safety and Security
0.5
Education and Training
0.4
English Language
0.4
Personnel and Human Resources
0.4
Administrative
0.3

What the work involves

Handling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkScheduling Work and ActivitiesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Important abilities

Static StrengthStaminaProblem SensitivityGross Body EquilibriumReaction TimeOral Expression

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

No specific license or certification is required.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as ごみ収集作業員

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.