Post job

Recycling technician vs recycling specialist

The differences between recycling technicians and recycling specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a recycling technician and a recycling specialist. Additionally, a recycling specialist has an average salary of $35,703, which is higher than the $33,687 average annual salary of a recycling technician.

The top three skills for a recycling technician include recyclable materials, pallets and pallet jack. The most important skills for a recycling specialist are customer service, recyclable materials, and plastic bottles.

Recycling technician vs recycling specialist overview

Recycling TechnicianRecycling Specialist
Yearly salary$33,687$35,703
Hourly rate$16.20$17.16
Growth rate1%-
Number of jobs26,1973,039
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 45%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

Recycling technician vs recycling specialist salary

Recycling technicians and recycling specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recycling TechnicianRecycling Specialist
Average salary$33,687$35,703
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $41,000Between $25,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateNebraska-
Best paying companySF-Marin Food Bank-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between recycling technician and recycling specialist education

There are a few differences between a recycling technician and a recycling specialist in terms of educational background:

Recycling TechnicianRecycling Specialist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Stanford University

Recycling technician vs recycling specialist demographics

Here are the differences between recycling technicians' and recycling specialists' demographics:

Recycling TechnicianRecycling Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 86.2% Female, 13.8%Male, 84.5% Female, 15.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 7.1% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between recycling technician and recycling specialist duties and responsibilities

Recycling technician example responsibilities.

  • Handle hazardous materials according to OSHA standards.
  • Sort a variety of recycle materials such as concrete, drywall, plastics and wood into containers or bucket loaders.
  • Bale cardboard in baling machine.
  • Experience with torches, saws, shredders and balers.
  • Handle groundskeeper duties including mowing grass, removing weeds, and other landscaping.
  • Work independently, using judgment and discretion in making decisions that directly impact facility compliance.
  • Show more

Recycling specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage CNC operators and test the quality of cut for a variety of woods, metals, and leather.
  • Operate recycling processing equipment such as balers and crushers to process materials.
  • Monitor and troubleshoot equipment, conduct statistical process control tracking, visual and automate wafer inspection.
  • Separate engines/transmissions and cut various auto clips.

Recycling technician vs recycling specialist skills

Common recycling technician skills
  • Recyclable Materials, 18%
  • Pallets, 13%
  • Pallet Jack, 10%
  • Routine Maintenance, 10%
  • Hazardous Waste, 9%
  • Troubleshoot, 8%
Common recycling specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 20%
  • Recyclable Materials, 19%
  • Plastic Bottles, 16%
  • Aluminum Cans, 9%
  • Waste Reduction, 9%
  • Sort Materials, 5%

Browse production and manufacturing jobs