Cleans and decontaminates homes and businesses after deaths, crimes, accidents and hoarding situations, removing blood and biohazards safely. BLS does not publish separate figures for hazardous materials removal workers; it counts them within hazardous materials removal worker (SOC 47-4041), whose median pay is $49,450 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-4041
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Crime Scene Cleaner in four numbers
- Median pay
- $49,450a year, or $23.78/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $82K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.5%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4,30052,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202552.7K
- Projected 203553.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 52.7K Projected 2035 53.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Biohazard Remediation Technician, Trauma Scene Cleaner, Bio-Recovery Technician, Crime and Trauma Scene Technician, Biohazard Cleanup Technician.
Pay
How much do Hazardous Materials Removal Workers make?
Every crime scene cleaner in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$49,450
Middle half earn $44,720 to $61,530
- 10th
- $38,460
- 25th
- $44,720
- 75th
- $61,530
- 90th
- $82,410
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,460 |
| 25th | $44,720 |
| Median | $49,450 |
| 75th | $61,530 |
| 90th | $82,410 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $49,450
- Median hourly wage
- $23.78/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,430
- People employed
- 51,710
Versus all US occupations
At $49,450, Hazardous Materials Removal Workers earn 3% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $1,530 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 18% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $82,410 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,460, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 20% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $73,090, and still leads at $67,725 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Hazardous Materials Removal Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $73,090 | $67,725 | 4,090 |
| 2Illinois | $61,330 | $61,356 | 1,980 |
| 3Alaska | $60,320 | $58,930 | 140 |
| 4District of Columbia | $60,240 | $54,813 | 50 |
| 5North Dakota | $60,160 | $67,627 | 170 |
| 6Washington | $60,160 | $56,217 | 3,250 |
| 7Tennessee | $60,090 | $65,408 | 570 |
| 8Colorado | $59,920 | $58,145 | 1,400 |
| 9Missouri | $59,120 | $65,098 | 370 |
| 10Minnesota | $59,100 | $59,926 | 730 |
Job outlook
Is Crime Scene Cleaner a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | +1.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Hazardous Materials Removal Workers to change 1.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 4,300 openings are projected each year, 8.2% of the 52,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Crime Scene Cleaner
No degree is required. Employers train new technicians on OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard, respiratory protection and hazardous waste handling, and many technicians also hold hazardous materials or HAZWOPER training.
The American Bio-Recovery Association offers technician certification for the field, and the IICRC S540 standard for trauma and crime scene cleanup sets industry practices. Some states, such as California, register trauma scene waste practitioners. Many technicians start with cleaning, restoration or emergency services backgrounds, and an even temperament around disturbing scenes is essential.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Crime Scene Cleaner do?
Crime scene cleaners, also called biohazard remediation technicians, restore properties after violent crimes, suicides, unattended deaths, industrial accidents and severe hoarding. Once police and medical examiners release a scene, they remove blood and bodily fluids, contaminated materials and odors so the space is safe to use again.
The work involves setting up containment, wearing respirators and protective suits, removing and bagging contaminated carpet, drywall and furniture, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and verifying results with testing such as ATP swabs. Technicians package regulated medical waste for licensed disposal and document the job for insurers. They also work with grieving families, which calls for discretion and compassion.
Day-to-day tasks
- Assess scenes and set up containment and work zones
- Wear respirators and protective equipment for biohazard work
- Remove blood, bodily fluids and contaminated materials
- Clean, disinfect and deodorize affected surfaces
- Package and arrange disposal of regulated medical waste
- Verify decontamination with surface testing
- Document work and communicate with insurers and families
- Clean hoarding and unattended death sites
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Technicians work on call, often at night and on weekends, at homes, vehicles and businesses. They wear full protective gear for hours in hot, confined and unpleasant conditions, lift heavy materials and encounter disturbing scenes. Most work for small specialized companies or restoration firms.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.5
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Writing2.6
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Operation and Control3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Facilities management software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Crime Scene Cleaner?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RSC) built on O*NET's Hazardous Materials Removal Worker profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Crime Scene Cleaner |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.8
- Social3.0
- Investigative2.6
- Enterprising1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Crime Scene Cleaner
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Production
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator
$60,020median a year
Most earn $39K to $91K
−5.7%High school - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner
$49,880median a year
Most earn $37K to $73K
+7.8%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector
$49,690median a year
Most earn $34K to $76K
+2.1%No formal credential
- Recycling Coordinator · $62,840 median
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with hazardous materials removal workers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Crime Scene Cleaner$49,450
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Crime Scene Cleaner | $49,450 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Crime Scene Cleaner appears on
Questions
Crime Scene Cleaner: frequently asked questions
How much do Hazardous Materials Removal Workers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for hazardous materials removal workers. It counts them within hazardous materials removal worker, whose median pay is $49,450 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $44,720 and $61,530, and the top 10% earn $82,410 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Crime Scene Cleaner?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Crime Scene Cleaner a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.5% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 4,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Crime Scene Cleaner do?
Crime scene cleaners, also called biohazard remediation technicians, restore properties after violent crimes, suicides, unattended deaths, industrial accidents and severe hoarding. A typical task: assess scenes and set up containment and work zones. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise application integration software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software.
Which states pay Hazardous Materials Removal Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers are New York ($73,090), Illinois ($61,330), Alaska ($60,320) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Crime Scene Cleaner?
O*NET scores Hazardous Materials Removal Workers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.