Incinerator Operator Salary in the United States

How much does an Incinerator Operator make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Incinerator Operator in the United States is $52,935 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, an Incinerator Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $60,899
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,308 to $57,104
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,275
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $46,308 10% $40,275 90% $60,899 75% $57,104 $52,935 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Incinerator Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $57,104 $4,759 $1,098 $27
Average $52,935 $4,411 $1,018 $25
25th Percentile $46,308 $3,859 $891 $22
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Key Factors That Influence Incinerator Operator Salaries

An Incinerator Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Incinerator Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Incinerator Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $54,316
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $60,348
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,274
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,125
  • Expert (over 8 years): $82,735
Levels Salary
Incinerat... Level Incinerator Operator$54,316
Stationar... Level Incinerator Operator$60,348
Stationar... Level Incinerator Operator$68,274
Stationar... Level Incinerator Operator$85,125
Stationar... Level Incinerator Operator$82,735
$54,316 0 yr
$60,348 < 2 yrs
$68,274 2-4 yrs
$85,125 5-8 yrs
$82,735 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Incinerator Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Incinerator Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $58,610.
  • California: $58,388.
  • Massachusetts: $57,610.

Top Paying Cities for Incinerator Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $66,767
  • San Francisco: $66,036
  • Oakland: $64,645

What Skills Can Increase an Incinerator Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 13.63% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Project Commissioning (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): Project commissioning is the process of assuring that all systems and components of a building or industrial plant are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained according to the operational requirements of the owner or final client.
  • Field Service (Mentioned in 1.87% Job Postings): Managing and optimizing operations to respond to and address customer requests at off-site locations or client sites.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 13.63%
Project Commissioning 3.34%
Field Service 1.87%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Incinerator Operator's salary.
  • Managed Services: Can increase your salary by up to 42%.
  • Telecommunications: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Managed Services
 $75,168
42%
Telecommunications
 $74,110
40%
Verbal Communication
 $61,405
16%
Power Generation
 $60,876
15%
Initiative
 $60,346
14%
Analysis
 $59,288
12%
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Incinerator Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Incinerator Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 49% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Incinerator Operator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Incinerator Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Incinerator Operator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$66,169$32.025%
Financial Services$63,522$31.020%
Software & Networking$63,522$31.020%
Pharmaceuticals$61,934$30.017%
Internet$59,288$29.012%

Incinerator Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Incinerator Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$46,308
Average $52,935/year
$57,104
$3,859
Average $4,411/month
$4,759
$891
Average $1,018/week
$1,098
$22
Average $25/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $57,104 $4,759 $1,098 $27
Average $52,935 $4,411 $1,018 $25
25th Percentile $46,308 $3,859 $891 $22

Salaries of jobs related to Incinerator Operator

Salary Trends for Incinerator Operator

Salaries for an Incinerator Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $45,541 in 2023 to around $45,105 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Incinerator Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Incinerator Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$45,541
2024
$45,666
2025
$45,105
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $45,541
2024 $45,666
2025 $45,105
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Incinerator Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Incinerator Operator

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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