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What is a shredder operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a shredder operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.42 an hour? That's $38,309 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 56,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreShredder OperatorUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,309

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.3

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 2.64%

Black or African American 15.68%

Hispanic or Latino 19.42%

Unknown 4.06%

White 57.48%

Gender

female 6.90%

male 93.10%

Age - 44
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 - 44
Stress level
8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a shredder operator

  1. Explore shredder operator education requirements

    Most common shredder operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    45.7 %

    Associate

    21.7 %

    Diploma

    17.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific shredder operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    OSHA52.22%
    Production Reports39.23%
    RAN5.22%
    Trouble Shoot3.33%
  3. Complete relevant shredder operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New shredder operators 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 shredder operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real shredder operator resumes.
  4. Research shredder operator duties and responsibilities

    • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
    • Follow company and OSHA safety procedures as well as maintaining a clean and orderly work area.
    • Maintain the good cleanliness of the AFR area by always conduct 15 to 20 minutes 5's before and after work.
    • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
  5. Prepare your shredder operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your shredder operator 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 shredder operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable shredder operator resume templates

    Build a professional shredder operator 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 shredder operator resume.
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
    Shredder Operator Resume
  6. Apply for shredder operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a shredder operator 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 shredder operator job

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Average shredder operator salary

The average shredder operator salary in the United States is $38,309 per year or $18 per hour. Shredder operator salaries range between $31,000 and $46,000 per year.

Average shredder operator salary
$38,309 Yearly
$18.42 hourly

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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.

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