How To Become A Transfer Station Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a transfer station operator 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 transfer station operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.33 an hour? That's $38,127 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -3% and produce -38,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreTransfer Station OperatorUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,127

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.2

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.89%

Asian 6.05%

Black or African American 10.66%

Hispanic or Latino 16.14%

Unknown 4.29%

White 61.96%

Gender

female 7.69%

male 92.31%

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

5.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a transfer station operator

Explore transfer station operator education requirements

Most common transfer station operator degrees

High School Diploma

32.0 %

Bachelor's

32.0 %

Diploma

20.0 %

Start to develop specific transfer station operator skills

Skills	Percentages
End Loaders	37.39%
Equipment Maintenance	22.03%
Landfill	21.39%
Hazardous Materials	15.01%
Roll-Off Truck	2.67%

Complete relevant transfer station operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New transfer station 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 transfer station operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real transfer station operator resumes.

Research transfer station operator duties and 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.

Prepare your transfer station operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your transfer station 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 transfer station 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 transfer station operator resume templates

Build a professional transfer station 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 transfer station operator resume.