Mid-Level

Metal Weigher

The metal scale anchors the work — at scrap yards, foundries, mills, or non-ferrous recycling operations, metal weighers capture the weights of metals coming in or out, generating the tickets that drive purchase, billing, and inventory.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
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Work Personality
C
R
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A
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Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Metal Weighers
Employment concentration · ~177 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 Metal Weigher

The platform scale and the materials-grading area are the working environment — trucks arriving with scrap metal, copper, aluminum, or steel; weights captured by load and by category; tickets generated for settlement; non-ferrous samples sometimes pulled for assay. You're often between the supplier driver and the yard or mill records. Weights captured accurately and grade-category documentation anchor the visible measures.

Where it gets demanding is the materials-grading judgment that affects pricing — scrap metal pays by category and quality, and the weigher often participates in the grading call. Variance across employers is real: at major scrap-metal recyclers and foundries weighers work within structured grading and settlement programs; at smaller yards the role combines weighing with broader yard and grading work.

It fits people who are comfortable in an industrial-yard environment and detail-precise about weight and grading. The trade-off is the dust, noise, and weather exposure typical of metals-yard work. Industry credentials anchor advancement.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ 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 Metal Weighers (SOC 43-5111.00), 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 Metal Weigher career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ 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.

$35K–$60K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
50K
U.S. Employment
-4.8%
10yr Growth
5K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationActive ListeningQuality Control AnalysisCoordinationComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-5111.00

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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.