Try destroyer.

Destroyers work great for light salvage duty. Loads of high slots for salvagers and tractor beams. Catalyst has best potential cargo capacity, followed closely by the Coercer. Cormorant has the least by far, since it only has one low slot for cargo expanders. It does have the largest cargo hold before mods, though.

Once you start doing level 4's you'll probably find that whichever destroyer you choose won't be able to keep up with the amount of loot you're collecting. Although the salvaged materials themselves take up very little room, all the modules and ammo piles up and you'll be making multiple trips. At least, this was true before Inferno. Haven't done any salvaging since, and with no more meta 0 drops you might find that the volume of loot is enough for a destroyer. But as enemy ships start to orbit at longer ranges the distance between wrecks will get bigger and bigger and you'll start to hate flying between them, even with a MWD. That's when you want to train for a Noctis. Being able to reach every wreck on the map without having to move an inch is pretty sweet.

Awesome suggestions guys. Above and beyond.

Looks like the Noctis is the eventual goal, but I'll start with a Destroyer (probably Cormorant just because it's convenient) to get me started with the lvl3 missions.

8-12 mil is a good cheap start and we'll see how quickly it returns its investment.

Really appreciate the replies.

As for the bit about needing to make multiple trips, that's just not so. Other than the occasional WC, X Extravaganza and maybe The Blockade, a ghetto salvage dessie can pretty much handle any mission. Especially a Catalyst w/ 1 or 2 cargo optimization rigs.

I now remember what I was thinking about when I thought of having to do many trips in my Coercer that made me shell out for a Noctis: drone poo. But those days are gone forever, I guess.

It's not a ship, it's the ability to multibox and have an alt account. Without that you will most likely be spending more time going back and forth than actually running missions, i.e. your profits may actually be lower and if you loot/salvage/sell.

And if you have that dediciated alt, train it to destroyer/Noctis/Orca in that order. You will want it for level 4s anyway so better to start now.

Since destroyers aren't much good outside of blob warfare and getting blown up or ganking, they are most only good for salvaging. You can easily fit salvagers and tractors in their high slots and go to town.

Noctis.

Highs:
5x tractor beam, 3x salvager
Mids:
Sensor booster, cruiser mwd.
Lows:
Cargo expanders.

Works fine. A bit pricy, but it works great.