How much does a operations / supervisor make per hour?

A operations / supervisor in waste management averages about $34.50 an hour. Converting the annual figures at 2080 hours a year, that runs from roughly $24.04 an hour at entry level to about $52.88 an hour for senior and top-of-scale workers. These roles are typically salaried and exempt, so extended days at a site are not separately paid. Annual bonuses tied to safety record, tonnage throughput and budget performance are the usual mechanism for rewarding heavy periods.

What is the annual salary for a operations / supervisor?

The average annual salary is $72,000, with a typical range of $55,000 to $95,000. Entry-level pay starts around $50,000 and senior positions reach $110,000. That works out to roughly $6,000 a month or $1,385 a week before overtime.

~ Salary Guide 2026 ~

Operations / Supervisor Salary

$72,000

Average Annual Salary

$34.50/hr

Typical range: $55,000 – $95,000 per year

Hourly range: $24.04 – $52.88 per hour

Salary Breakdown

Entry LevelAverageSenior

$50,000$72,000$110,000

Entry Level

$50,000

Average

$72,000

Senior

$110,000

Operations / Supervisor Pay Per Hour

A operations / supervisor in waste management earns an average of $34.50 per hour. The table below converts every annual figure on this page to an hourly, weekly and monthly equivalent at a standard 2080-hour work year (40 hours a week, 52 weeks), so you can compare an hourly job posting directly against an advertised annual salary.

Level	Per Hour	Per Week	Per Month	Per Year
Entry level	$24.04	$962	$4,167	$50,000
Low end	$26.44	$1,058	$4,583	$55,000
Average	$34.50	$1,385	$6,000	$72,000
High end	$45.67	$1,827	$7,917	$95,000
Senior / top of scale	$52.88	$2,115	$9,167	$110,000

Hourly, weekly and monthly columns are calculated from the annual figures in this guide (annual ÷ 2080 hours, ÷ 52 weeks and ÷ 12 months). They describe base pay only. Overtime, shift differentials and bonuses are not included.

Overtime and premium hours. These roles are typically salaried and exempt, so extended days at a site are not separately paid. Annual bonuses tied to safety record, tonnage throughput and budget performance are the usual mechanism for rewarding heavy periods. Browse current operations / supervisor openings to see what employers are actually advertising right now.

Top Paying Cities

City	State	Avg. Salary
New York	NY	$88,000
San Francisco	CA	$85,000
Chicago	IL	$78,000
Houston	TX	$76,000
Seattle	WA	$75,000

About This Role

Operations supervisors manage the day-to-day functions of waste management facilities including transfer stations, landfills, and recycling centers. They oversee staffing, equipment utilization, safety compliance, and production targets. This leadership role requires balancing operational efficiency with regulatory requirements and environmental stewardship.

Key Skills

Facility managementStaff scheduling and supervisionOSHA safety complianceBudget managementRegulatory reportingProcess improvement

Certifications

SWANA Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO)OSHA 30-Hour General IndustrySWANA Certified Recycling Systems Manager

Entry-Level Pay and Getting Hired With No Experience

Facility supervision is a promotion target, not an entry point. Employers expect demonstrated experience running crews and equipment on a site, plus working knowledge of OSHA and state environmental requirements. Candidates typically arrive from scale-house, equipment-operator, lead-hand or route-supervisor roles, or transfer in from operations management in an adjacent industry.

Entry-level pay for this role starts around $50,000 a year, about $24.04 an hour, or roughly $4,167 a month before overtime. That is $22,000 below the national average for the role, which is the gap experience, certifications and location close over time.

Other waste management roles that regularly hire without prior industry experience: CDL Driver ($26.50/hr), Recycling Sorter ($16.50/hr), Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician ($30.00/hr) and Hazmat Waste Handler ($25.00/hr).

See entry-level operations / supervisor jobs hiring now →

Part-Time Operations / Supervisor Work

Transfer stations and landfills run long operating days and often weekend hours, and supervisors are expected to cover their shift end to end. Part-time supervision is essentially unavailable; the schedule flexibility on offer is shift assignment, not fewer hours.

If a reduced schedule is what you need, the roles below carry far more genuine part-time availability while keeping you in the same industry.

Waste management roles with the most part-time and weekend availability: CDL Driver ($26.50/hr), Recycling Sorter ($16.50/hr), Helper / Laborer ($15.50/hr) and Admin / Office ($20.00/hr).

Search part-time operations / supervisor jobs →

Union Pay Scale for Operations / Supervisors

As the person who assigns and disciplines site staff, an operations supervisor normally sits outside the bargaining unit even where the workforce is organised. Compensation follows a company salary band. Fluency in the site's collective bargaining agreement is still part of the role, because scheduling, seniority and overtime assignment all have to be administered within it.

One important caveat: the figures on this page are national averages across union and non-union employers alike. They are not a union wage scale. Actual scale rates are set contract by contract and local by local, they change when an agreement is renegotiated, and the only authoritative source is the current agreement itself. Request it from the local or the employer’s HR department before you rely on a number.

Other commonly unionised waste management roles: CDL Driver, Recycling Sorter, Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician and Helper / Laborer.

Job Outlook

Operations supervisors are consistently in demand as waste management companies expand services and open new facilities. The role is evolving to include more data-driven decision-making and sustainability initiatives. Candidates with experience in both field operations and management are well-positioned for advancement to director-level roles.

Operations / Supervisor Jobs Hiring Now

Fleet Maintenance Supervisor
Republic Services · Danville, IL
Full-Time
Operations Supervisor Hauling
Republic Services · Chesterton, IN
Full-Time
Solid Waste Educator Supervisor
City of Lubbock, TX · Lubbock, TX
Full-Time
Scrap Yard** Excavator/Grapple Operator
Ohio Recycling Yard · Columbus, OH
Full-Time
Equipment Operator (Material Recovery Facility)
Burrtec Waste Industries · Victorville, CA
Full-Time

View All Operations / Supervisor Jobs →

Operations / Supervisor Career Path & Salary Expectations

A career as a operations / supervisor in the waste management industry offers a clear trajectory from entry-level positions starting around $50,000 per year to senior roles earning $110,000 or more annually. With the national average sitting at $72,000 ($34.50/hr), professionals in this field can expect competitive compensation that grows with experience, certifications, and geographic location. Top-paying markets like New York offer salaries as high as $88,000. Whether you are just entering the waste and recycling industry or looking to advance your career, investing in relevant skills and certifications is the most reliable path to higher earning potential in this essential and growing sector.

Put another way, the average works out to about $34.50 an hour, $1,385 a week or $6,000 a month on a full 2080-hour year, before the overtime, shift premiums and bonuses covered above. To compare this role against the rest of the industry, see the full waste management salary guide, or go straight to operations / supervisor openings and every waste management job on the board.