Post job

What is a sanitation engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a sanitation engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.81 an hour? That's $32,877 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 85,500 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSanitation EngineerUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $32,877

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.7

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.31%

Asian 4.92%

Black or African American 11.08%

Hispanic or Latino 18.07%

Unknown 4.11%

White 60.51%

Gender

female 12.74%

male 87.26%

Age - 51
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51
Stress level
5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
9.1

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Sanitation engineer career paths

Key steps to become a sanitation engineer

  1. Explore sanitation engineer education requirements

    Most common sanitation engineer degrees

    High School Diploma

    40.9 %

    Bachelor's

    21.4 %

    Associate

    18.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific sanitation engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Safety Procedures27.49%
    Restrooms13.99%
    Building Floors5.18%
    Hoisting3.90%
    CDL3.83%
  3. Complete relevant sanitation engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sanitation engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sanitation engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sanitation engineer resumes.
  4. Research sanitation engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Operate automate or semi-automate hoisting devices.
    • Maintain freezer cleanliness and functionality, assist and coach coworkers in their daily duties until complete
    • Maintain machinery for daily USDA inspection
  5. Prepare your sanitation engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sanitation engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a sanitation engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable sanitation engineer resume templates

    Build a professional sanitation engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your sanitation engineer resume.
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
    Sanitation Engineer Resume
  6. Apply for sanitation engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a sanitation engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first sanitation engineer job

Zippi

Are you a sanitation engineer?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average sanitation engineer salary

The average sanitation engineer salary in the United States is $32,877 per year or $16 per hour. Sanitation engineer salaries range between $25,000 and $42,000 per year.

Average sanitation engineer salary
$32,877 Yearly
$15.81 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do sanitation engineers rate their job?

Working as a sanitation engineer? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse building and grounds maintenance jobs