Hazardous Materials Removal Workers earn a median of $49,450 per year ($23.78/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.5% through 2035, with about 4,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-4041
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker 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: Abatement Worker, Asbestos Abatement Worker, Asbestos Worker, Clandestine Laboratory Responder (Clan Lab Responder), D and D Operator (Decontaminate and Decommissioning Operator), D and D Operator (Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator).
Pay
How much do Hazardous Materials Removal Workers make?
Every hazardous materials removal worker 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 Hazardous Materials Removal Worker 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.
Despite limited employment growth, about 4,300 openings for hazardous materials removal workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment growth will be driven by the need to safely remove and clean up hazardous materials (hazmat) at sites recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, funding for these activities may be sporadic; furthermore, construction laborers also perform some hazmat cleanup, offsetting demand for hazardous materials removal workers.
As nuclear plants are decommissioned, hazmat removal workers also will be needed to decontaminate equipment, store waste, and clean up these facilities for safe closure. However, some of the planned decommissioning activities have been delayed by the recent extension of site licenses.
Getting in
How to become a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker
Hazardous materials (hazmat) removal workers typically need a high school diploma and are trained on the job. They must complete training that follows federal, state, and local standards.
- 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.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker do?
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.
Hazardous materials (hazmat) removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances, such as asbestos, lead, mold, and radioactive waste. They also neutralize and clean up materials that are flammable, corrosive, or toxic.
Day-to-day tasks
- Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
- Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
- Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
- Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
- Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
- Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
- Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
- Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most hazmat removal workers are employed full time. Overtime is common for some workers, especially for those who respond to emergency and disaster scenarios.
Some hazmat removal workers travel to areas affected by a disaster. During a cleanup, workers may be away from home for several days or weeks until the project is completed.
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.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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.
Where hazardous materials removal workers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Remediation and other waste management services62%
- Waste treatment and disposal14%
- Construction5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Remediation and other waste management services | 62% |
| Waste treatment and disposal | 14% |
| Construction | 5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
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 Hazardous Materials Removal Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Hazardous Materials Removal Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
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
- Conventional4.4
- Investigative2.6
- Social1.5
- 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 Hazardous Materials Removal Worker
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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
- Hazardous Materials Removal Worker$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 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $49,450 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within hazardous materials removal worker
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Hazardous Materials Removal Worker appears on
Questions
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Hazardous Materials Removal Workers make?
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers earn a median of $49,450 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.78/hr. The middle half earn between $44,720 and $61,530. The top 10% earn $82,410 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker?
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 Hazardous Materials Removal Worker 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 Hazardous Materials Removal Worker do?
Hazardous materials (hazmat) removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances, such as asbestos, lead, mold, and radioactive waste. A core O*NET task: comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods. 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 Hazardous Materials Removal Worker?
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.