Checked
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers earn a median $49,450 a year in the U.S., with 51,710 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $49,450 a year
- Employment
- 51,710
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +1.5%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 4,300
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $49,450 · $23.78 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $56,430 · $27.13 an hour (estimate error ±1.1%)
- 10th percentile
- $38,460 · $18.49 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $44,720 · $21.50 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $61,530 · $29.58 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $82,410 · $39.62 an hour
- Employment
- 51,710 (estimate error ±3.1%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 52,700
- Projected for 2035
- 53,500
- Change
- +800 (+1.5%)
- Openings each year
- 4,300
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 0.8%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $73,090 | 4,090 |
| 2 | Illinois | $61,330 | 1,980 |
| 3 | Alaska | $60,320 | 140 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $60,240 | 50 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $60,160 | 170 |
| 6 | Washington | $60,160 | 3,250 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $60,090 | 570 |
| 8 | Colorado | $59,920 | 1,400 |
| 9 | Missouri | $59,120 | 370 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $59,100 | 730 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 7,340 | $56,120 |
| Texas | 4,450 | $44,390 |
| New York | 4,090 | $73,090 |
| Washington | 3,250 | $60,160 |
| Massachusetts | 2,770 | $49,620 |
| New Jersey | 2,250 | $55,900 |
| Illinois | 1,980 | $61,330 |
| Florida | 1,780 | $42,350 |
| Michigan | 1,610 | $46,380 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,590 | $47,860 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $104,530 | 720 |
| 2 | Amarillo, TX | $77,580 | 120 |
| 3 | Knoxville, TN | $75,280 | 230 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $74,060 | 3,770 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $67,010 | 300 |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,330 | 1,580 |
| 7 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $60,390 | 310 |
| 8 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,390 | 250 |
| 9 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,290 | 1,620 |
| 10 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,260 | 930 |
| 11 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $59,700 | 350 |
| 12 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,580 | 1,410 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,770 | $74,060 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,470 | $51,160 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,980 | $49,930 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,620 | $60,290 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,580 | $61,330 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,410 | $44,420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,410 | $59,580 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,280 | $43,200 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 930 | $60,260 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 890 | $49,130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 840 | $46,380 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 840 | $49,950 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)1 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)1 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do hazardous materials removal workers make?
- The median wage for hazardous materials removal workers in the U.S. is $49,450 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,720 and $61,530.
- Which state pays hazardous materials removal workers the most?
- New York has the highest median wage for this occupation at $73,090 a year.
- What is the job outlook for hazardous materials removal workers?
- BLS projects employment to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,300 openings each year on average.
- What education do hazardous materials removal workers need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.