Recycling and reclamation workers sort, process, and prepare materials for reuse or disposal. The work is hands-on, in demand, and you can start with a high school diploma. Here is what the job involves, what skills matter most, and how to get in.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You handle and move recyclable and reclaimed materials, operating machinery to sort, shred, or compress items. You inspect equipment and materials to ensure quality and safety, monitor processes to catch problems early, and communicate with supervisors and coworkers about production needs. You may operate vehicles or mechanized devices to transport materials around the facility. The work requires attention to detail, physical stamina, and the ability to follow safety protocols in a fast-paced warehouse or processing environment.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Recycling and Reclamation Workers earn a median of $40,240 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 384,300 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. You will learn the specific machinery, safety procedures, and material-handling techniques on the job through hands-on training. Some employers prefer candidates with prior warehouse or manufacturing experience. Focus on developing strong listening skills, the ability to follow written and verbal instructions, and a commitment to safety. Many facilities offer entry-level roles that let you learn while you earn, with opportunities to advance as you gain experience and technical knowledge.
Most paths into this work start with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. If you are deciding whether to jump in now or pursue additional credentials first, Pathly can map the recycling and reclamation worker path that fits you to map out your options and talk through the timing with your counselor.
You do not need a license to work as a recycling and reclamation worker, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You like working with your hands, solving practical problems, and seeing tangible results. You are reliable, detail-oriented, and comfortable with machinery and physical work in a structured environment.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).