All About Recycling and Reclamation Workers
Position Description Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.
Life As a Recycling & Reclamation Worker: What Do They Do?
- Operate shredders to reclaim steel from discarded appliances.
- Operate balers to compress recyclable materials into bundles or bales.
- Extract chemicals from discarded appliances, such as air conditioners or refrigerators, using specialized machinery, such as refrigerant recovery equipment.
- Clean materials, such as metals, according to recycling requirements.
- Deposit recoverable materials into chutes or place materials on conveyor belts.
- Collect and sort recyclable construction materials, such as concrete, drywall, plastics, or wood, into containers.
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Qualities of a Recycling & Reclamation Worker
These are the skills Recycling and Reclamation Workers say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Crane Operator
- Operator (Specialist)
- Auto Dismantler
- Forklift Driver (Team Lead Driver) Recycling and Waste Dock
- Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Worker
Is There Going to be Demand for Recycling and Reclamation Workers?
There were about 263,500 jobs for Recycling and Reclamation Worker in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.4% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11,600 new jobs for Recycling and Reclamation Worker by 2026. The BLS estimates 31,400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Recycling & Reclamation Worker are Nevada, Florida, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Maine, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Recycling & Reclamation Worker
The typical yearly salary for Recycling and Reclamation Workers is somewhere between $20,140 and $55,910.

Recycling and Reclamation Workers who work in Wyoming, Alaska, or New Mexico, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Recycling and Reclamation Workers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $28,700 |
Alaska | $56,120 |
Arizona | $37,420 |
Arkansas | $30,450 |
California | $34,400 |
Colorado | $35,420 |
Connecticut | $36,610 |
District of Columbia | $55,860 |
Florida | $28,220 |
Georgia | $30,030 |
Hawaii | $30,260 |
Idaho | $29,640 |
Illinois | $36,920 |
Indiana | $37,710 |
Iowa | $43,290 |
Kansas | $28,950 |
Kentucky | $28,520 |
Louisiana | $38,140 |
Maine | $34,510 |
Maryland | $36,850 |
Massachusetts | $37,970 |
Michigan | $38,980 |
Minnesota | $37,930 |
Mississippi | $28,030 |
Missouri | $31,610 |
Montana | $33,320 |
Nebraska | $27,990 |
Nevada | $36,910 |
New Hampshire | $34,340 |
New Jersey | $33,160 |
New Mexico | $50,040 |
New York | $36,960 |
North Carolina | $32,350 |
North Dakota | $34,200 |
Ohio | $35,750 |
Oklahoma | $31,400 |
Oregon | $34,610 |
Pennsylvania | $39,650 |
Rhode Island | $36,540 |
South Carolina | $35,660 |
South Dakota | $46,940 |
Tennessee | $31,000 |
Texas | $33,240 |
Utah | $30,150 |
Vermont | $32,590 |
Virginia | $30,080 |
Washington | $35,250 |
West Virginia | $29,570 |
Wisconsin | $34,000 |
Wyoming | $54,480 |
What Tools & Technology do Recycling and Reclamation Workers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Recycling and Reclamation Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Work scheduling software
How to Become a Recycling & Reclamation Worker
Individuals working as a Recycling and Reclamation Worker have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Recycling and Reclamation Workers Work

Recycling and Reclamation Workers work in the following industries:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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