The Salary of a Landfill Manager

Landfill mangers oversee waste disposal and storage facilities.

Landfill managers oversee administrative and supervisory tasks of waste storage facilities. In addition to monitoring and insuring proper waste storage, managers also oversee the purchase and maintenance of heavy equipment, and insure that all local laws are adhered to with regard to containment storage, trash sorting, and recycling measures.

Salary

According to May 2010 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries of general and operational managers in the waste management and remediation services industry came to a mean, or average, of $106,760. This equates to an hourly rate of $51.33 when factored out across a standard 40-hour work week, although many landfill managers can work weekends and other overtime shifts.

Factors Affecting Salary

Operation size and extent of supervisory responsibilities are the major factors influencing the salary range of landfill and waste operations managers. Managers employed by less populated districts and cities with smaller waste management needs typically earn lower wages than those employed by major cities. Mangers of larger landfills have more staff to manage and waste volume to oversee.

Industrywide Salary Comparison

This rate for managers was considerably higher than the mean annual wage of all occupations in the waste management and remediation services industry, which, according to the report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was just $43,160 per year or $20.75 per hour. Conversely, chief executives in the waste management and remediation services industry earned approximately 40 percent more than general operations managers, with an average annual salary of $171,180 per year, or $82.30 per hour, as of 2010.

Relevant Background and Skills

Aspiring landfill managers should posses a bachelor's level education in waste management, business management, or a related field. Any formal educational training or up-to-date licensure on hazardous materials removal is also beneficial. In addition to excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, the leadership aspects of the position requires candidates who have demonstrated success in a professional supervisory position, and who can motivate large groups of individuals towards a unified goal.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition: Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates; NAICS 562000 - Waste Management and Remediation Services
• Haywood County, North Carolina: Solid Waste Landfill Manager, Solid Waste Department

Resources

• Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)