How to hire a disposal operator

How to hire a disposal operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step disposal operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a disposal operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new disposal operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your disposal operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a disposal operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A disposal operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, disposal operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of disposal operators.

   Type of Disposal Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Disposal Operator	Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.	$12-30
   Water Treatment Technician	Water treatment technicians work every day in observing agricultural plant functions, which includes obtaining the daily requirements and making suitable adjustments to satisfy those demands. They carefully implement process sampling to exactly gauge and keep track of levels... Show more	$13-32
   Water Technician	Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency... Show more	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOT
   • EPA
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Salt Water Disposal
   • Safety Training
   • Environmental Issues
   • Environmental Agencies
   • Plumbing
   • Routine Maintenance
   • H2S
   • Skim Oil
   • Oil Tanks
   • Frac

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
   • Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.
   • Mobilize, and maintain specialize tools, equipment, supplies, and EOD publications.
   • Clean out disposal strainers and baskets on the pumps.
   • Conduct readings of H2o and H2s in daily processing of gas.
   • Conduct gas test, H2s, O2, LEL, benzene test and butadiene before issuing confine space permit.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your disposal operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A disposal operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, disposal operators' average salary in arkansas is 51% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level disposal operators 59% less than senior-level disposal operators.
   • Certifications. A disposal operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a disposal operator's salary.

   Average disposal operator salary

   $41,101yearly

   $19.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level disposal operator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a disposal operator job description

   A job description for a disposal operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a disposal operator job description:

   Disposal operator job description example

   Disposal Well Operator in Frierson, LA at Select Energy Services
   
   Date Posted:9/30/2022
   
   APPLY ({{ apply Url }}) Not Ready To Apply?
   
   Job Snapshot
   
   + Employee Type:
   
   Full-Time
   
   + Location:
   
   Frierson, LA
   
   + Job Type:
   
   Disposals
   
   + Date Posted:
   
   9/30/2022
   
   About Us
   
   Select Energy Services is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has grown to become a company with approximately 5,000 employees. We provide services to customers in every major unconventional basin throughout the United States and Canada. We deliver innovative and efficient end-to-end water and chemical solutions to oilfield operators.
   
   At Select Energy Services, we're dedicated to providing our customers with an arsenal of efficient and environmentally conscious water and chemical solutions to service the full life cycle of the well. Select Energy Services is geographically positioned to provide customized solutions to the unique requirements of every major unconventional basin.
   
   Select's robust range of services provides our customers with one source to keep their operations moving and on time-and more importantly, allow them to focus on their objectives and do what they do best. At Select Energy Services, we pride ourselves in being a trusted partner that offers a comprehensive approach for more convenient and better results.
   
   We at Select Energy Services believe our true value lies within the hard work, proven experience, safety and customer-centric solutions we are able to bring to each and every job or project. Every day is an opportunity for us to work hard, prove our experience, put safety first, and maintain 100% client focus. After all, we believe that is the only way to operate successfully in the oil and gas industry. Since our formation in 2008, we have done just that.
   
   Job Description
   
   DISPOSAL OPERATOR
   
   Job Details
   
   Full Time / Part Time:Full Time
   
   FLSA Classification:Non-Exempt
   
   Business Unit:Disposals
   
   Reports to:Operations Manager
   
   Travel Requirement:No
   
   Job Description
   
   Select's Disposal Operator is responsible for assuring safe and efficient operation of the disposal well system. Maintain quality control and assure complete compliance with all federal, state, and local laws governing environmental compliance, worker safety and underground injection well regulations.
   
   The essential job functions include, but are not limited to
   
   + Overall maintenance, upkeep and appearance of disposal area
   
   + Gauge and records necessary information pertaining to the retrieval of oil, water and pressure daily
   
   + Monitor water pumps and trucks when disposing salt water
   
   + Retrieve oil from working pit/tanks
   
   + Unload lines, discharge and relieve valves or other equipment related to disposal of fluids
   
   + Generate and document third-party tickets and other forms of documentation in support of disposal
   
   + Meet compliance requirements with county, state, and federal regulatory rules and regulations
   
   + Ensure tickets are completed with accuracy and signed by drivers
   
   + Ensure smooth transition from day to night attendants: communicate current status and potential issues prior to end of shift
   
   + Perform daily follow up calls with drivers/pushers to ensure delivery of fluid
   
   + Attend company meetings as requested
   
   + Follow company policies and procedures
   
   + Improve utilization efficiently, driver compliance
   
   + Ensure immediate work area is neat and orderly to ensure safety of workers
   
   + Report and correct unsafe conditions of practices
   
   Other duties
   
   Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
   
   Requirements
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:
   
   + Working knowledge and understanding of disposal business
   
   + Excellent written and verbal communication skills
   
   + Must possess valid driver's license and be eligible to drive a company vehicle according to Select's insurance guidelines
   
   + Extremely dependable and reliable
   
   + Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
   
   + Excellent customer service and relationship-building skills
   
   + Knowledge of Microsoft Office
   
   + Ability to execute duties based off of instruction with little supervision or guidance
   
   + Exhibits qualities of a team player
   
   + Extremely dependable
   
   Attributes
   
   + A- Accountability: Take ownership of actions and outcomes.
   
   + C- Continuous Improvement: Embrace the necessity for change and commitment to continual growth and progress.
   
   + T- Teamwork: Encourage and support a collaborative, safe, and engaged work environment.
   
   Compensation Information
   
   Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.
   
   Top Tier Benefits
   
   + Medical, dental, vision, coverage in addition to life and disability insurance plans
   
   + Paid Vacation Days and Paid Holidays
   
   + Retirement and Savings (401K) Plan
   
   + Employee Stock Purchase Program
   
   Physical Demands and Exposures
   
   + Work is regularly performed in outside weather conditions, including rain and extreme cold and heat, near moving mechanical parts; exposure to high wind, ice, snow, wet and/or humid conditions, vibration, and dust is expected.
   
   + Exposure to noise levels requiring the use of hearing protection
   
   + Prolonged sitting, standing, walking
   
   + Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
   
   + Ability to individually lift: Maximum 100 lbs
   
   Affirmative Action/EEO statement
   
   Select is an equal opportunity employer. It is Select's policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any protected class, status, characteristic, or activity. All employment decisions, including decisions regarding recruitment, selection, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, advancement, discipline, discharge, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment are made without regard to any lawfully protected class, status, characteristic, or activity.
   
   Clean Air ActSelect requires all employees whose jobs may involve environmental compliance to understand and comply with the U.S. Environmental Protections Agency's Clean Air Act that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. A copy of the Clean Air Act can be provided to you upon request from Human Resources.
   
   Select Energy Services participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Select is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Select only uses E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
   
   Other details
   
   + Pay Type : Hourly
   
   Thank you for your application.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find disposal operators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your disposal operator job on Zippia to find and recruit disposal operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting disposal operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new disposal operator

   Once you've selected the best disposal operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new disposal operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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