Table of Contents
Job description
Recycling and Reclamation Workers prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.
- Operate shredders to reclaim steel from discarded appliances.
- Collect and sort recyclable construction materials, such as concrete, drywall, plastics, or wood, into containers.
- Sort materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for recycling.
- Extract chemicals from discarded appliances, such as air conditioners or refrigerators, using specialized machinery, such as refrigerant recovery equipment.
Become one
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Recycling and Reclamation Workers with little to no experience tend to make between $20140 and $23860 while the more experienced ones can earn over $40840 per year.
| Top 5 paying states | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $27 | $56,120 |
| DC | $27 | $55,860 |
| WY | $26 | $54,480 |
| NM | $24 | $50,040 |
| SD | $23 | $46,940 |
One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Recycling and Reclamation Worker is to move to a higher paying state like AK. Right now, the highest paying states for Recycling and Reclamation Workers are AK, DC, WY, NM and SD.
However, a higher pay at AK doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at AK might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.
Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Recycling and Reclamation Worker is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.
Requirements
We asked other Recycling and Reclamation Workers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by an Associate’s Degree.
Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.
Pros and Cons
Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Recycling and Reclamation Worker.
| PROS |
|---|
| Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work |
| Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment |
| This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors. |
| It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career. |
| CONS |
|---|
| Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others |
| One of the lowest paying jobs |
| Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week) |
What is the job like
61% of Recycling and Reclamation Workers said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.
Is this right for me
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces. | Salary $41490 |
mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods. | Salary $28660 |
set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate CNC equipment. | Salary $31110 |
set up, operate, or tend machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. | Salary $36510 |
set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber. | Salary $38060 |
Learn more about Recycling and Reclamation Workers
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Related career information
Recycling and Reclamation Workers job description, Recycling and Reclamation Workers salary, Recycling and Reclamation Workers information, what is the job of a Recycling and Reclamation Worker like, pros and cons about Recycling and Reclamation Workers, colleges and universities for Recycling and Reclamation Workers, is Recycling and Reclamation Workers the right career for me, careers in Production
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Additional resources
Last updated: April 28, 2020
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Recycling and Reclamation Workers
prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.
