Composting Industry Releases First Pay Study
The new report provides key salary data for thousands of facilities that have seen rapid growth in recent years.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Organic Food
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The US Composting Council has released its first industry-wide compensation report, offering a look at workforce trends within the composting sector. This benchmarking analysis provides data for a industry that previously lacked comprehensive national or federal salary documentation.
Why it matters
As the composting industry undergoes rapid expansion, the new report helps facility operators and workers understand competitive compensation standards. The study serves as a foundational resource for a sector that experienced a significant 83% increase in processed tonnage in the years leading up to 2021.
The report by the US Composting Council utilized a year-long benchmarking process to analyze compensation across private, public, and non-profit facilities. While the study provides new clarity on industry workforce trends, official federal labor data for the sector remains unavailable.
The players
US Composting Council
An organization based in Raleigh, NC, that advocates for the composting industry and establishes professional standards.
Compensation Resources
A consulting firm specializing in compensation analysis and workforce benchmarking.
The details
To compile the report, the US Composting Council partnered with compensation experts at Compensation Resources. The data collection focused on standardizing pay and benefit structures for a industry that only received its own North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code in 2022. By analyzing these figures, stakeholders now have a clearer baseline for operations across the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 facilities nationwide.
Timeline
2021: Industry processing growth reached 83%.
2022: The composting industry received a formal NAICS code.
October 23, 2026: The US Composting Council published the compensation study.
2027: A follow-up economic study is scheduled for release.
Health Landscape
The composting industry has shifted from a fragmented collection of local facilities into a formal economic sector supported by its 2022 NAICS code designation. This professionalization allows for better integration of waste management and environmental health initiatives at a national scale.
This study underscores the rapid growth of local composting infrastructure that helps manage organic waste within the community. Readers interested in environmental health can check their local municipal or regional composting facilities to see if these services are available for residential waste reduction.
The takeaway
The composting industry is scaling rapidly to meet demand, with facility numbers growing 55% in the half-decade preceding 2021. Residents can support these efforts by verifying whether their local government programs utilize these certified facilities for food and organic waste collection.
What happens next
The US Composting Council plans to conduct a follow-up economic study in 2027 based on 2025 facility data.
Further reading
For more on the broader impacts of sustainable waste management, visit our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Waste360.
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