The invention discloses a method for reclaiming metals from a molybdenum-containing waste catalyst, which comprises the following steps of: mixing the waste catalyst and a magnesium-containing compound, roasting, degreasing, removing carbon, then crushing, mixing the powder and sodium carbonate, roasting the mixture, and leaching the roasted materials by using aqueous solution, wherein ammonium salt or aqueous ammonia is added in the aqueous solution leaching step, the molybdenum in the waste catalyst enters the solution in a form of sodium molybdate or ammonium molybdate, the impurities suchas silicon, phosphorus and the like entering the aqueous solution form sediment, and the sediment is kept in solid residue in a filtration step; and after the solid is separated, performing acidification, extraction, re-extraction and the like to reclaim the molybdenum and other metals. The method solves the pollution problem caused by sulfur dioxide in the discharged gas in the roasting, degreasing and carbon removal processes; and the salts formed by the reclaimed sulfur and magnesium can play a role in removing impurities in the subsequent steps so as to save the consumption of chemical reagents in the metal reclaiming process and reduce the cost. In addition, the method reduces the operation steps, reduces equipment, improves the operation effect, and also can improve the molybdenum yield.