Metal sorter vs scrap metal processing worker

The differences between metal sorters and scrap metal processing workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a metal sorter and a scrap metal processing worker. Additionally, a metal sorter has an average salary of $29,488, which is higher than the $27,192 average annual salary of a scrap metal processing worker.

Metal sorter vs scrap metal processing worker overview

	Metal Sorter	Scrap Metal Processing Worker
Yearly salary	$29,488	$27,192
Hourly rate	$14.18	$13.07
Growth rate	6%	-3%
Number of jobs	20,964	31,382
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	12	12

Metal sorter vs scrap metal processing worker salary

Metal sorters and scrap metal processing workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Metal Sorter	Scrap Metal Processing Worker
Average salary	$29,488	$27,192
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $38,000	Between $14,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between metal sorter and scrap metal processing worker education

There are a few differences between a metal sorter and a scrap metal processing worker in terms of educational background:

	Metal Sorter	Scrap Metal Processing Worker
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Metal sorter vs scrap metal processing worker demographics

Here are the differences between metal sorters' and scrap metal processing workers' demographics:

	Metal Sorter	Scrap Metal Processing Worker
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2%	Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 5.5% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between metal sorter and scrap metal processing worker duties and responsibilities

Metal sorter example responsibilities.

Operate a forklift and other equipment such as shears, blow torches, chop see, and shaker tables.
Manufacture extruded aluminum evaporator coils, condenser coils, and other products for heat transfer applications.
Process mail using automate mail processing equipment or manual methods of sortation and distribution.

Scrap metal processing worker example responsibilities.

Handle groundskeeper duties including mowing grass, removing weeds, and other landscaping.
Operate balers to compress recyclable materials into bundles or bales.

Metal sorter vs scrap metal processing worker skills

Common metal sorter skills

Stainless Steel, 38%
Sort Metals, 23%
Non-Ferrous Metals, 18%
Torches, 11%
Unload Trucks, 10%

Common scrap metal processing worker skills

Metal Sorter vs. similar jobs

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Metal Sorter vs Scrap Metal Processing Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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