Junior

Junior Metal Dealer

The scrap metal trader — buying and selling metal materials from businesses and individuals.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
R
S
I
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Junior Metal Dealers
Employment concentration · ~392 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Junior Metal Dealer

As a Junior Metal Dealer, you buy and sell scrap metal and metal materials. You might work at a scrapyard, recycling operation, or metal trading company. The role involves evaluating materials, negotiating prices, and conducting transactions with sellers and buyers.

Your day involves assessing incoming metal, negotiating purchase prices, managing inventory, and selling to processors or end users. Understanding metal types, grades, and market pricing is essential. Building relationships with regular sellers creates consistent supply.

The hardest part is accurate material evaluation under time pressure. You need to quickly assess metal type, quality, and weight to offer fair prices that still allow profit. Mistakes in assessment affect profitability. The people who thrive here develop keen material evaluation skills and enjoy the negotiation aspects of trading.

RelationshipsAbove avg
AchievementModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
IndependenceModerate
RecognitionLower
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Metal typesOperation sizeSupplier mixMarket dynamicsPhysical demands
Metal dealing varies by operation and metal type. Precious metals differ from ferrous or non-ferrous scrap. Large operations have more specialization; smaller yards handle everything. Supplier mix ranges from industrial accounts to walk-in sellers. Physical conditions vary by facility.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Junior Metal Dealers (SOC 41-4012.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Junior Metal Dealer career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Metal identification
Accurately assessing types and grades
2
Price negotiation
Buying and selling at profitable levels
3
Market awareness
Understanding pricing trends and dynamics
What types of metals does this operation focus on?
How are materials assessed and priced?
What is the supplier mix — industrial accounts or walk-in?
What are the physical conditions?
How is compensation structured?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$38K–$134K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
1.3M
U.S. Employment
+0.3%
10yr Growth
115K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$58K$55K$52K201920202021202220232024$52K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionNegotiationCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoringJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
41-4012.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.