Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of hazardous materials removal workers cover:
- Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
- Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
- Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.
- Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
- 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.
- Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
- Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top hazardous materials removal workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Coverer
- Asbestos Handler
- Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Remover
- Asbestos Technician
- Asbestos Worker
How Many Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 380,120 hazardous materials removal workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $31,832 |
| Hourly median | $15.30 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $25,304 |
| 75th percentile | $38,360 |
| 90th percentile | $44,887 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | $65,080 |
| Minnesota | $63,560 |
| New York | $62,610 |
| Idaho | $61,230 |
| New Hampshire | $60,540 |
| Washington | $59,840 |
| Colorado | $58,790 |
| District of Columbia | $58,490 |
| Hawaii | $56,100 |
| New Jersey | $56,040 |
| Illinois | $55,640 |
| California | $54,740 |
| North Dakota | $54,350 |
| Alaska | $53,860 |
| Montana | $52,280 |
| New Mexico | $52,180 |
| Rhode Island | $50,380 |
| Iowa | $50,140 |
| Ohio | $49,560 |
| Massachusetts | $49,130 |
| Indiana | $49,010 |
| Vermont | $48,980 |
| South Dakota | $48,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,820 |
| Oregon | $48,700 |
| Nebraska | $48,180 |
| Nevada | $47,490 |
| Michigan | $47,470 |
| Arizona | $47,360 |
| South Carolina | $47,150 |
| Kentucky | $47,060 |
| Maryland | $47,050 |
| Missouri | $46,850 |
| Maine | $46,350 |
| Virginia | $46,050 |
| Utah | $45,740 |
| Texas | $45,220 |
| Wisconsin | $45,010 |
| Connecticut | $44,840 |
| Georgia | $44,320 |
| West Virginia | $43,910 |
| North Carolina | $41,550 |
| Kansas | $40,700 |
| Oklahoma | $39,980 |
| Delaware | $39,140 |
| Alabama | $38,810 |
| Mississippi | $38,740 |
| Arkansas | $38,390 |
| Florida | $38,320 |
| Louisiana | $37,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,180 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for hazardous materials removal workers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $57,862 | 5.7% | 1.83 |
| Middle Atlantic | $56,664 | 16.4% | 1.15 |
| Far Western US | $54,917 | 26.9% | 1.68 |
| Great Lakes | $50,908 | 10.2% | 0.74 |
| Plains States | $50,803 | 3.3% | 0.58 |
| New England | $48,078 | 7.2% | 1.87 |
| Southwest | $46,277 | 10.4% | 1.18 |
| Southeast | $42,542 | 19.5% | 0.91 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $95,600 | 660 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $76,950 | 330 |
| Amarillo, TX | TX | $76,900 | 130 |
| Knoxville, TN | TN | $74,130 | 210 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $72,950 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $66,540 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $64,990 | 360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $62,280 | 3,580 |
Which Industries Hire Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Most hazardous materials removal workers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 41,500 | $47,660 |
| Construction | 3,160 | $54,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,420 | $60,080 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 260 | $53,090 |
| Manufacturing | 220 | $59,920 |
| Utilities | 190 | $105,890 |
| Wholesale Trade | 160 | $61,330 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 120 | $52,470 |
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Enterprise application integration software: Jenkins CI (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for hazardous materials removal workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Exposed to Contaminants
How to Become Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Most hazardous materials removal workers positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Environmental Engineers (Supplemental)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (Supplemental)
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (Supplemental)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for hazardous materials removal workers commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers).
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