Metal sorter vs transfer station operator

The differences between metal sorters and transfer station operators 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 transfer station operator. Additionally, a transfer station operator has an average salary of $38,127, which is higher than the $29,488 average annual salary of a metal sorter.

The top three skills for a metal sorter include stainless steel, sort metals and non-ferrous metals. The most important skills for a transfer station operator are end loaders, equipment maintenance, and landfill.

Metal sorter vs transfer station operator overview

	Metal Sorter	Transfer Station Operator
Yearly salary	$29,488	$38,127
Hourly rate	$14.18	$18.33
Growth rate	6%	-3%
Number of jobs	20,964	31,100
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	High School Diploma, 32%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	12	12

Metal sorter vs transfer station operator salary

Metal sorters and transfer station operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Metal Sorter	Transfer Station Operator
Average salary	$29,488	$38,127
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $38,000	Between $26,000 And $55,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between metal sorter and transfer station operator education

There are a few differences between a metal sorter and a transfer station operator in terms of educational background:

	Metal Sorter	Transfer Station Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	High School Diploma, 32%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Metal sorter vs transfer station operator demographics

Here are the differences between metal sorters' and transfer station operators' demographics:

	Metal Sorter	Transfer Station Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2%	Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.0% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between metal sorter and transfer station operator 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.

Transfer station operator example responsibilities.

Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Review, complete and file necessary documents to reserve training locations and ammunition requests.

Metal sorter vs transfer station operator skills

Common metal sorter skills

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

Common transfer station operator skills

End Loaders, 37%
Equipment Maintenance, 22%
Landfill, 21%
Hazardous Materials, 15%
Roll-Off Truck, 3%
DOT, 2%

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Metal Sorter
Metal Sorter vs Transfer Station Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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