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Recycling and Reclamation Workers

General Information

Description

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

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit90.35%
  2. State and local government2.97%
  3. Private, not for profit2.88%
  4. Self-employed2.53%
  5. Federal government0.96%

Industry areas

  • Manufacturing

Job Outlook

Overall employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 1,056,000 openings for hand laborers and material movers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 1,056,000 openings for hand laborers and material movers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Similar Careers

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$31,230

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$37,930
$18,690
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 74%
  • Associate's degree 14%
  • Doctoral degree 8%
  • Less than high school 1%
  • Post-secondary certificate 1%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Knowledge

  • Production and Processing
  • Mechanical
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Public Safety and Security
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.