Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for hazardous materials removal workers in the U.S. is $49,450 ($23.78 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $49,450
- Mean annual wage
- $56,430
- Median hourly wage
- $23.78
- Employment
- 51,710
51,710 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Median (50th) | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| 75th percentile | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| 90th percentile | $82,410 | $39.62 |
Highest-paying states for hazardous materials removal workers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $73,090 | 4,090 |
| Illinois | $61,330 | 1,980 |
| Alaska | $60,320 | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $60,240 | 50 |
| North Dakota | $60,160 | 170 |
| Washington | $60,160 | 3,250 |
| Tennessee | $60,090 | 570 |
| Colorado | $59,920 | 1,400 |
| Missouri | $59,120 | 370 |
| Minnesota | $59,100 | 730 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $36,630 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $38,000 median annual wage
- Alabama: $38,610 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $39,440 median annual wage
- Florida: $42,350 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.
- Organize or track the locations of hazardous items in landfills.
- Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
- Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
- Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures.
- Operate cranes to move or load baskets, casks, or canisters.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 14.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 21.1% |
| Associate's degree | 9.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 10.3% |
| Master's degree | 1.9% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Construction Laborers$47,120
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920
- Electricians$63,190
- Carpenters$60,580
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$49,400
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,020
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.