Recycling & Reclamation Worker

Also called: Non-Ferrous Material Handler, Sort Line Worker, Sorter, Transfer Station Operator

Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.

No four-year degree needed Bright outlook Transportation

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Median pay

$40,240/yr

Typical range

$31,270 – $55,140

Outlook

Bright outlook

What does a Recycling & Reclamation Worker do?

Sort materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for recycling.
Clean recycling yard by sweeping, raking, picking up broken glass and loose paper debris, or moving barrels and bins.
Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, power lifts, or front-end loaders to load bales, bundles, or other heavy items onto trucks for shipping to smelters or other recycled materials processing facilities.

How to become a Recycling & Reclamation Worker

Training: A high school diploma or GED or an associate's degree or other 2-year degree. Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Skills you'll use

Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvementsListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questionsNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

What you'll learn about

Manufacture and distribution of productsMechanicalManagementCustomer servicePublic safety and security

Tools and technology

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Word

Questions people ask

How much does a Recycling & Reclamation Worker make?

About $40,240 a year at the U.S. median. Most earn between $31,270 and $55,140. Pay depends on the state, the employer and experience.

How long does it take to become a Recycling & Reclamation Worker?

Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Do you need a college degree to be a Recycling & Reclamation Worker?

No four-year degree is needed. A high school diploma or GED or an associate's degree or other 2-year degree.

Is Recycling & Reclamation Worker a good career to get into?

O*NET lists it as a Bright Outlook career: it's expected to grow quickly or have lots of openings in the next few years.

Want to land a Recycling & Reclamation Worker job?

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National wage figures via O*NET Web Services. This application incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Figures are national estimates and vary by state, employer and experience. Career details from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

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