You’ve probably seen them on a Tuesday morning, hanging off the back of a massive white truck, tossing bags like it’s nothing. In New York City, being a "Strongest" isn't just about hauling trash. It’s a golden ticket. People wait years—sometimes a decade—just for the chance to take the NYC Dept of Sanitation Exam. It is one of the most competitive civil service tests in the United States, and honestly, the stakes are massive because the benefits are basically legendary.
We aren't just talking about a paycheck. We’re talking about a pension, full medical, and a starting salary that climbs toward six figures faster than most corporate desk jobs. But here’s the thing: the exam doesn’t happen every year. In fact, it’s rare. When the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) finally opens that filing window, it’s like the Hunger Games for city residents.
The Reality of the NYC Dept of Sanitation Exam Filing Process
If you think you can just walk in and sign up whenever you feel like it, you’re mistaken. The NYC Dept of Sanitation Exam (specifically for the role of Sanitation Worker) is offered roughly every four to seven years. The last big push, Exam 2060, saw tens of thousands of applicants vying for a few thousand spots.
You have to be at least 17 and a half to take the test, but you can’t actually be appointed until you hit 21. There’s also a residency requirement. If you live within the five boroughs, you get five extra points on your score. In a city where thousands of people get a perfect 100, those five points—the "residency credit"—are often the only reason someone gets called for the physical and medical screenings while someone else waits forever.
It’s competitive. Really competitive.
What is actually on the test?
Forget what you know about academic exams. This isn't the SATs. The written portion focuses on cognitive abilities that actually matter on the street. You’ll deal with situational judgment. For example: "You are driving a route and a parked car is blocking a narrow alley. What is the protocol?" You need to know how to follow written instructions, apply general rules to specific problems, and exhibit basic spatial orientation.
Wait, spatial orientation? Yeah. You’re driving a massive vehicle through the West Village. You need to know if that truck fits.
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Scoring High is the Only Way to Win
Getting a 70% means you passed. Getting a 70% also means you are never getting the job.
To actually get hired, you generally need a 100% or higher (including those residency points). Because the list of passing candidates is so long, the city works through them in order of rank. If you’re number 15,000 on the list, the list might expire before they even reach your name. This creates a high-pressure environment where one silly mistake on a multiple-choice question about "deductive reasoning" can cost you a twenty-year career.
The Physical: The Superman Test
If you pass the written exam with a high enough score, you get invited to the physical agility test. This is where things get real. It’s a timed obstacle course designed to simulate a day on the job. You have to lift heavy bins, drag "totes," and move with agility.
It’s exhausting.
Many people underestimate it because they hit the gym. But lifting a barbell is different from dragging a 60-pound bag of wet garbage that’s leaking onto your boots while a clock is ticking. You have to be fast, but you have to be safe. If you drop a bin or fail to clear a hurdle properly, you get penalized.
Pay, Perks, and the "Hidden" Benefits
Why do people obsess over the NYC Dept of Sanitation Exam? Let’s look at the numbers. While the starting salary is modest—usually in the mid-40k range—it scales rapidly. After about five or six years, you hit "top pay." Currently, that base pay is over $83,000, but with overtime, night shifts, and snow removal bonuses, many workers easily clear $100,000 a year.
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And the snow.
Snow is the DSNY version of overtime gold. When a blizzard hits, sanitation workers switch from garbage collection to plowing and spreading salt. These shifts are long—12 hours or more—but the time-and-a-half or double-time pay makes those weeks incredibly lucrative.
- Pension: Retire after 20 or 22 years with a guaranteed percentage of your salary.
- Health: Comprehensive coverage that most private-sector employees would kill for.
- Job Security: Once you're through probation, you're a "permanent" civil servant.
Common Misconceptions About the DSNY
People think it’s just "the garbage man." It’s much more. DSNY is technically a uniformed force. They have their own police division (Environmental Police) and a massive mechanical wing. When you pass the NYC Dept of Sanitation Exam, you are entering a department that manages over 10,000 tons of trash every single day.
It’s also surprisingly dangerous. Sanitation work is consistently ranked as one of the most hazardous jobs in the country, often more so than police or fire work. You’re dealing with heavy machinery, erratic NYC drivers, and hazardous materials people shouldn't have thrown away but did.
How to Prepare for the Next Window
Since the exam is infrequent, you have to be ready the moment it’s announced. You should regularly check the DCAS Monthly Exam Schedule.
When the window opens:
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- File immediately. Don't wait until the last day. The system can crash.
- Claim your credits. If you’re a veteran or a legacy applicant (child of a worker killed in the line of duty), make sure those points are added.
- Study the "Official" way. DSNY isn't looking for "common sense" answers; they are looking for the answer that follows their specific manual. Take a prep course if you have to. There are several reputable civil service prep schools in Staten Island and Brooklyn that specialize in this.
The Medical and Background Check
If your number is called, you’ll undergo a rigorous medical exam. They check your hearing, your vision, and your heart. You also need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). You don't necessarily need it to take the written test, but you absolutely need it to be hired. If you don't have one, the department might help you get it, but having your Class A or B CDL beforehand puts you way ahead of the curve.
There’s also a drug test. It’s a zero-tolerance environment for obvious safety reasons.
Actionable Steps for Aspiring Workers
If you're serious about joining the Strongest, don't just wait around. Here is the roadmap.
First, get your paperwork in order. Ensure your high school diploma or GED is verified and accessible. Second, keep your driving record clean. Too many points on your license can disqualify you before you even touch a trash bag.
Start training your grip strength and cardio now. The physical test is a sprint, not a marathon, but it requires explosive power. Lastly, sign up for email alerts from NYC Open Data and DCAS. The NYC Dept of Sanitation Exam doesn't wait for you, and if you miss the filing window, you might be waiting until 2030 for the next one.
Keep an eye on the "Notice of Examination" (NOE) documents. These are the "bibles" for each test cycle. They tell you exactly what the passing score is, what the physical entails, and how the points are weighted. Read every word of it. Most people fail because they didn't read the fine print about residency or filing fees. Be the person who reads the fine print.
Success in this process is about patience and precision. You aren't just applying for a job; you're applying for a lifetime of stability in one of the toughest cities on earth.