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Hazardous Materials Removal Worker

$48,490
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Identify, remove, and dispose of hazardous materials like asbestos, lead, and contaminated soil under strict safety rules.

Where you work

Job sites and contaminated areas

The hours

Full-time, some emergency call

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$48,490
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~5,000
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+1%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
51,300
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

High school / no degree

Training path: On-the-job training plus certification.

License or certification

Federal OSHA and EPA training and certification are required.

You can earn while you train. This field has a genuinely paid pathway in — an apprenticeship, a paid academy, or employer-funded training — so you draw a paycheck instead of taking on debt to learn it.

What it takes

Safety protocolsProtective gear useCareful handlingStamina

The honest take

Cleans up asbestos, lead, and spills others can't touch — certification and safety discipline are the whole job.

Standard Occupational Classification 47-4041. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.