Junk Removal Services
The short answer: According to the BLS, employed refuse and recyclable material collectors, the job closest to junk removal, earned a median $49,690 a year in May 2025, while one creator, Sonoma Strong Hauling, reports $3,000–$5,000 extra a month from a pickup side hustle. The main catch is the labor: Chris Koerner calls shovelling out a hoarder house a nasty job. (BLS OEWS; Chris Koerner) The first tool needed is a pickup truck, so junk removal suits people who have one. (Sonoma Strong Hauling & Junk Removal)
| Median pay of employed refuse and recyclable material collectors | $23.89/hr ($49,690/yr) BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employee pay, not side-hustle income |
|---|---|
| Projected job growth, refuse and recyclable material collectors | +2.1% BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| One creator's reported earnings | $50/hr Reported by Chris Koerner, Jan 2026 |
| One creator's reported part-time earnings | $3,000–$5,000/month Reported by Sonoma Strong Hauling & Junk Removal, Nov 2026 |
| One creator's reported startup cost | $2,500–$4,000 2 reports by Chris Koerner, Jun 2024–Aug 2024 |
From 14 quotes by 2 creators and BLS data. A creator figure is one person's account.
Go deeper: all the junk removal services evidence
How much do junk removal operators make?
Junk removal's closest employee benchmark, refuse and recyclable material collectors, earned a median $23.89 an hour in May 2025, according to the BLS. Matt and Joni of Sonoma Strong Hauling report $87K in their first part-time year. (BLS OEWS; Chris Koerner)
Resold and scrapped items add revenue for them. (Chris Koerner)
| Related occupation | Median pay | Middle 80% |
|---|---|---|
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $23.89/hr ($49,690/yr), BLS OEWS, May 2025 | $33,590–$75,900/yr |
Median annual pay of employed refuse and recyclable material collectors: $49,690 nationally; highest and lowest states below (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Highest-paying states | Median | Lowest-paying states | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $75,050/yr | South Carolina | $34,880/yr |
| Washington | $74,620/yr | South Dakota | $32,950/yr |
| New York | $64,950/yr | Puerto Rico | $21,840/yr |
What do people doing junk removal services say?
“Call it 50 bucks an hour per person.”
“starting a junk removal business as a side hustle with just a pickup truck, you can expect to make anywhere between three and $5,000 extra every month”
“I got basically put a $2500 investment in the company”
“we spent $4000 on our F-150, which was our first truck.”
What does it cost to start a junk removal business?
Junk removal startup reports include a $2,500 investment from a Bend, Oregon owner and $4000 spent on an F-150 by Kirk McKinney and his brother. A 21-year-old who grew from one pickup truck and a small trailer quotes $10,000 a month in costs, plus dump fees per ton. (Chris Koerner)
- Find customers first. (Chris Koerner)
- Post on Craigslist, Facebook groups or Nextdoor. (Sonoma Strong Hauling & Junk Removal)
- Leave business cards at real estate offices. (Chris Koerner)
- Use a price sheet and don't lowball.
- Vehicle required: yes (Chris Koerner)
How many hours does a junk removal side hustle take?
Junk removal hours fit around other schedules in two accounts: Matt started picking up people's trash when he got off nights at Safeway at like 8 in the morning, and Kirk and his brother had “7 hours every day after school.” (Chris Koerner)
Not enough evidence yet: No source we track says how long the first payout takes or how many hours it needs yet.
Who is junk removal best for?
Junk removal suits moonlighters and students, given those after-shift and after-school starts. Anyone avoiding heavy, dirty work should skip junk removal, because hoarder-house jobs mean shovelling and loading the truck. (Chris Koerner)
Junk removal can also become a career: Sonoma Strong says its pickup side hustle is now a full-time business making over $600,000 a year. (Sonoma Strong Hauling & Junk Removal)
Is junk removal worth it?
Pros
- Matt and Joni now report about $50K/month at 35% net. (Chris Koerner)
- Their first job came from a free Craigslist post.
Cons
- Winters are slow in Kirk's account. (Chris Koerner)
- Growth can mean paying a marketing agency for Google and Meta ads, as one 21-year-old hauler does. (Chris Koerner)
What are the risks of a junk removal business?
Junk removal's costly mistake, Chris warns, is buying a brand new pickup truck and dump trailer: “now they got payments, but they ain't got the business.” Advice on trucks conflicts: Sonoma Strong says you need a pickup truck, while Chris's sample breakdown says to rent a U-Haul. (Chris Koerner; Sonoma Strong Hauling & Junk Removal)
What are the alternatives to junk removal services?
- Movers as a side hustle: Often covered together (2 shared videos).
- Content Creator: Often covered together (1 shared video).
- Landscaping Services side hustle: Often covered together (1 shared video).
Sources and method
Quotes are verbatim and linked to the moment they were said. A figure from one report is not confirmed by a second source. BLS figures describe employees in the closest related occupation. Every quote, the pay in each state and the full source list are on the all the junk removal services evidence.
- Sonoma Strong Hauling & Junk Removal, YouTube, 2 Nov 2026.
- Chris Koerner, YouTube, 26 Feb 2026.
- Chris Koerner, podcast, 10 Jun 2024.
- Chris Koerner, YouTube, 8 Jun 2026.
- Chris Koerner, YouTube, 27 Jan 2026.
- Chris Koerner, podcast, 19 Aug 2024.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35.
Other data behind this page (8)
| Fact | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demand trend | stable | Accepted | BLS Employment Projections |
| Full-time or part-time | full time capable | Accepted | Sonoma Strong Hauling & Junk Removal; Chris Koerner |
| Ongoing cost | $10,000/month | Accepted | Chris Koerner |
| Fit by life phase (employed_moonlighter) | 0.70 score 0–1 | Accepted | Chris Koerner |
| Fit by life phase (student) | 0.70 score 0–1 | Accepted | Chris Koerner |
| Physical demand | high | Accepted | Chris Koerner |
| Common pitfalls | Buying a new truck and dump trailer on payments before the business exists | One report | Chris Koerner |
| Common pitfalls | Lowballing prices to win every job | One report | Chris Koerner |