US Composting Council Releases Industry Payroll Report
The trade group publishes its first national compensation study to help facilities benchmark salaries and employee benefits.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Organic Food
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The US Composting Council has released its inaugural Compensation and Industry Trends Whitepaper to provide long-awaited data on industry pay and benefits. The study aims to help private companies, public facilities, and non-profits compare their workforce compensation against sector-wide benchmarks.
Why it matters
The report addresses a significant gap in industry information, as no comprehensive national data previously existed for the rapidly expanding composting sector. Access to these benchmarks helps facilities retain staff and standardize employment practices across the United States.
The composting industry includes between 2,000 and 3,000 facilities nationwide. The industry experienced a 55% growth in total facilities and an 83% increase in processed tonnage in the five-year period ending in 2021.
The players
US Composting Council
This is a non-profit trade organization based in Raleigh, NC, that promotes the composting industry through education, research, and advocacy.
Compensation Resources
This firm provides specialized human resources and compensation consulting services to help organizations develop competitive pay structures.
The details
The US Composting Council partnered with compensation experts Compensation Resources to conduct a year-long benchmarking process. This effort follows the 2022 implementation of a specific North American Industry Classification System code, which finally allowed for better formal tracking of the sector.
Timeline
Growth in tonnage processed reached 83% by 2021.
The composting industry received a formal NAICS code in 2022.
The USCC published the compensation study on October 23, 2026.
A follow-up economic study of 2025 data is scheduled for 2027.
Culture Shift
The report follows the establishment of the 2022 North American Industry Classification System code, marking a transition toward formalizing the sector. This data-driven approach highlights how the industry is maturing from a niche environmental practice into a standardized, professionalized economic force.
Facility operators and managers can use these benchmarks to adjust their local hiring strategies and compensation packages to remain competitive. Employees in the sector may see these findings influence pay scales and benefit offerings as companies strive to align with national averages.
The takeaway
The lack of historical data for this industry underscores how quickly waste-management practices have evolved into a major national economic sector. Businesses should prioritize these benchmarks to better manage labor costs as facility growth continues to outpace traditional tracking methods.
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 information on the industry, visit the Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Waste360.
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