Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary

The median hazardous materials removal workers salary in the United States is $49,450 per year ($23.78/hour). Salaries range from $38,460 at the entry level to $82,410+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 51,710 hazardous materials removal workers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$49,450
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.78
per hour
Employment
51,710
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$38,460
25th percentile
$44,720
Median
$49,450
75th percentile
$61,530
90th percentile
$82,410

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+1%
Slower than average

Annual Openings

5,000
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for hazardous materials removal workerss.

Hazardous materials removal workers (BLS SOC 47-4041) execute regulated abatement + remediation on asbestos, lead paint, mold, PCBs, radiological contamination, biohazard / crime-scene, underground storage tanks (UST), and Superfund / RCRA cleanup sites. Typical seats: EPA-licensed asbestos-abatement + lead-abatement contractors; mold-remediation firms; biohazard / crime-scene cleaners; radiological-decommissioning specialists; UST-removal crews; Superfund remediation contractors at Clean Harbors, US Ecology (Republic Services), Veolia Environmental Services North America, Stericycle, Servpro Industries, Belfor Property Restoration, and ATC Group Services; state DEP-licensed abatement contractors; and Department of Defense + Department of Energy legacy-site radiological remediation contractors. BLS reports 51,710 employed with a median of $49,450, p10 $32,050, p90 $89,340+. Entry $32-45k; established $50-72k; senior + supervisor $72-115k; site superintendent + project manager $95-165k+; regional operations leadership $145-285k+ + LTIP. The single biggest earnings lever is stacking OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour + OSHA lead + asbestos worker + supervisor endorsements + a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Certified Safety Professional (CSP) at the supervisor level, and moving from field-crew commodity pricing into a superintendent seat at Clean Harbors + US Ecology + Veolia + Servpro + Belfor scale or into a state-agency regulatory-inspector track at the EPA + state DEP.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour + 8-hour refresher (29 CFR 1910.120)
40-hour initial Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training required for site work at RCRA Subtitle C treatment / storage / disposal facilities, uncontrolled hazardous waste sites (Superfund), and emergency response operations. Annual 8-hour refresher required. Site-specific supervisor training (24 additional hours per 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(4)) for supervisor endorsement. Medical monitoring under 29 CFR 1910.120(f) β€” annual physical, baseline audiometric + spirometry + blood-lead + chest x-ray (asbestos-worker chest x-ray at 3-5 year cycle per NIOSH guidance).
OSHA Asbestos Worker + Supervisor certification (29 CFR 1926.1101)
Asbestos-worker 32-hour initial + 8-hour annual refresher for Class I asbestos-abatement work (removal of TSI + surfacing ACM); Class II work (removal of non-friable ACM); Class III work (repair + maintenance activities); Class IV work (custodial + housekeeping). Asbestos-supervisor 40-hour initial + 8-hour annual refresher (Competent Person designation under 29 CFR 1926.1101(b)). AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) certification for K-12 school asbestos work under 40 CFR Part 763 Subpart E. State asbestos-worker licenses in every operational state (MA, NY, CT, NJ, PA, IL, CA, WA, OR most stringent).
OSHA Lead Worker + Supervisor certification (29 CFR 1926.62 + 40 CFR Part 745)
Lead-worker 16-hour initial for lead-abatement + lead-based paint (LBP) work under 29 CFR 1926.62 (construction industry lead standard); EPA-RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) Rule certification under 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E for renovation firms working in pre-1978 residential + child-occupied facilities; lead-supervisor 32-hour initial (Competent Person designation). State lead-worker + supervisor + inspector + risk-assessor + project-designer license tiers (varies by state); HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule at 24 CFR 35 for federally-assisted residential.
Mold remediation + Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation compliance; IICRC WRT (Water Damage Restoration Technician) + AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician) + AWR (Applied Water Restoration) certifications. Containment (negative-pressure enclosure + HEPA-filtered air scrubber + polyethylene barrier); PPE (N95 or P100 half-mask + coveralls + gloves + eye protection); HVAC lockout; clearance testing (post-remediation air sampling + surface sampling + independent industrial hygienist verification). NORMI (National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors) + IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association) member benefits + continuing education.
RCRA + CERCLA + Superfund regulatory fluency
RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USC Β§6901+) hazardous-waste generator + transporter + TSDF (treatment, storage, disposal facility) permit + manifest under 40 CFR Parts 260-270; RCRA hazardous-waste transporter registration + EPA ID number; Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (EPA Form 8700-22) generation + tracking + signature discipline; land-disposal restrictions (LDR) at 40 CFR Part 268. CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act β€” Superfund, 42 USC Β§9601+) National Priorities List (NPL) sites + Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) + Record of Decision (ROD) + Remedial Design + Remedial Action + Long-Term Response Action + O&M phase. State Superfund programs at state DEP / EPA. Brownfields Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act.
Underground Storage Tank (UST) removal + closure (40 CFR Part 280)
UST closure per 40 CFR Part 280 Subpart G β€” permanent closure by removal or in-place closure with sand-cement grout fill; site assessment for release detection under 40 CFR Β§280.72; state UST program (varies by state β€” NY DEC, NJ DEP, CA SWRCB, MA DEP, TX TCEQ, IL EPA, FL DEP). Petroleum contamination assessment + soil sampling + groundwater monitoring + LNAPL (light non-aqueous phase liquid) recovery; state UST cleanup fund reimbursement (varies by state β€” most states offer 60-90% reimbursement up to $1-2M per site). NUFC / IFCI / API + SWRI tank-removal certification.
Biohazard + crime-scene + trauma cleanup + bloodborne-pathogen protocol (29 CFR 1910.1030)
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) compliance β€” Exposure Control Plan, universal precautions, PPE (nitrile gloves + Tyvek coveralls + N95 or P100 respirator + shoe covers + eye protection), regulated medical waste (RMW) manifest + red-bag / sharps container disposal + Stericycle or Sharps Compliance pickup + incineration or autoclave treatment. American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA) + Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) certification. Suicide, unattended death, homicide, decomposition, hoarding + gross-filth crime-scene work with substantial trauma + emotional-management demands on the crew.
Site air monitoring + industrial hygiene sampling
Personal air sampling under 29 CFR 1926.1101 Appendix A (asbestos) + 29 CFR 1926.62 Appendix A (lead) β€” NIOSH Method 7400 PCM (phase-contrast microscopy) for asbestos fiber counting + Method 7402 TEM (transmission electron microscopy) for asbestos structure ID; NIOSH Method 7300 or 7303 ICP-MS for lead in air; NIOSH Method 0500 for mold spore counting on Air-O-Cell cassettes. Area sampling + clearance sampling + real-time particulate monitoring (TSI DustTrak, MIE pDR-1500). Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH from ABIH β€” American Board of Industrial Hygiene) + Certified Safety Professional (CSP from BCSP β€” Board of Certified Safety Professionals) for supervisor + project-manager tier.

How to Become a Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

  1. 1
    High school diploma or GED β€” Bachelor's not required at entry
    Entry into the field is high-school + trade path; some crew supervisors and site superintendents hold associate + bachelor's degrees in Environmental Science, Occupational Safety and Health, Industrial Hygiene, or Environmental Engineering (SUNY Cobleskill, Rochester Institute of Technology, Illinois Central College, Central Piedmont Community College, Central Washington University, Purdue, Michigan State).
  2. 2
    Complete OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour initial certification
    40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training under 29 CFR 1910.120; delivered by OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers, National Environmental Training (NET), Compliance Solutions Occupational Trainers, HAZWOPER OSHA Training + 360training.com online. $350-950 per 40-hour course; typically employer-paid at Clean Harbors + US Ecology + Veolia + Servpro + Belfor after hire.
  3. 3
    Complete OSHA asbestos + lead + mold specialty certifications as scope requires
    Asbestos-worker 32-hour + supervisor 40-hour (state-approved training providers); lead-worker 16-hour + supervisor 32-hour + RRP Rule initial 8-hour; IICRC WRT + AMRT + AWR (24-32 hr each + $175-450 exam + membership). State-specific asbestos + lead + mold licenses layered on the OSHA base.
  4. 4
    Start as entry-level Hazmat Technician / Field Technician at $32-45k + full benefits
    First seat β€” typically at a regional asbestos + lead + mold abatement contractor, or at a Clean Harbors / US Ecology / Veolia / Stericycle branch, or at a Servpro or Belfor franchise. Union work at LIUNA (Laborers International Union of North America) + Building and Construction Trades hazmat locals pays 15-30% premium + full CBA benefits + pension. $18-24/hr + overtime + benefits at non-union entry; $28-36/hr union scale in MA, NY, NJ, PA, IL, CA, WA metros.
  5. 5
    Add specialty endorsements + supervisor / competent-person designation
    OSHA asbestos + lead supervisor endorsement (Competent Person under 29 CFR 1926.1101(b) + 29 CFR 1926.62); IICRC AMRT + AWR + WRT for mold + water; ABRA Trauma & Crime Scene Practitioner for biohazard; state supervisor + project-designer + risk-assessor licenses. Some states also offer inspector + project-manager licenses at additional certification levels.
  6. 6
    Advance to Site Supervisor / Foreman / Competent Person at $50-72k + benefits
    5-9 years in seat. Own a project site day-to-day β€” crew of 4-15 techs; air monitoring + clearance sampling coordination with third-party industrial hygienist; regulatory documentation (waste manifests, air sampling logs, notification letters to EPA + state DEP + local health departments). Union scale at $34-48/hr + full benefits + pension at LIUNA locals in high-cost metros.
  7. 7
    Advance to Superintendent / Project Manager at $72-115k + benefits + bonus
    9-15 years in seat. Own multi-site project delivery β€” commercial + industrial + Superfund + public-sector abatement contracts at $250k-$8M project value. Direct-manage 3-8 supervisors + 15-60 field techs; interface with the general contractor, the owner, the third-party industrial hygienist, the EPA + state DEP inspector, and the client's environmental consultant. CIH + CSP + PMP certification track increasingly required.
  8. 8
    Advance to Regional Operations Manager / VP Operations at $145-285k+ + LTIP + equity
    15-25 years in seat. Own regional operations at Clean Harbors + US Ecology + Veolia + Stericycle + Servpro + Belfor scale β€” 5-25 branch offices + 200-1,500 field employees + $50-450M revenue P&L. Interface with corporate executive team, major national accounts (US Army Corps of Engineers, EPA Superfund program, state DEP, Department of Energy legacy sites, Fortune-500 industrial), and outside regulatory + legal counsel.

Career Progression

Entry-Level Hazmat Technician / Field Technician
0-4 yrs$32-45k salaried + overtime + full benefits + 401(k) match at $18-24/hr non-union or $28-36/hr LIUNA union scale
  • β€’Execute field abatement + remediation tasks: containment build, decontamination-unit setup, PPE donning + doffing, HEPA vacuuming, encapsulation, waste bagging + drumming, manifest preparation
  • β€’Personal air sampling + area sampling per site-specific plan; PCM slide preparation for NIOSH Method 7400 asbestos counting
  • β€’Follow OSHA HAZWOPER + asbestos + lead + mold + BBP work practices; maintain PPE + respirator fit-test discipline
  • β€’Complete daily log + waste manifest + air-sampling data entry; support site supervisor documentation
Next: Site Supervisor / Foreman at 4-8 years with supervisor endorsements + Competent Person designation.
Site Supervisor / Foreman / Competent Person
4-11 yrs$50-72k salaried + overtime + bonus + benefits + LIUNA pension at union or $34-48/hr union scale
  • β€’Own a single-site abatement + remediation project day-to-day; direct-manage a crew of 4-15 field techs
  • β€’Coordinate air monitoring + clearance testing with third-party industrial hygienist (IH) + laboratory (EMSL Analytical, Aerobiology Laboratory, Reservoirs Environmental)
  • β€’Regulatory documentation β€” asbestos NESHAP notification to EPA + state DEP 10 days before demo; state work-practice notifications; Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest generation + signature discipline
  • β€’Interface with general contractor + owner + third-party IH + regulatory inspector; run daily crew safety toolbox meeting
Next: Site Superintendent / Project Manager at 9-14 years with CIH / CSP / PMP.
Site Superintendent / Project Manager
9-16 yrs$72-115k salaried + 10-15% bonus + LTIP + full benefits at Clean Harbors / US Ecology / Veolia / Servpro / Belfor
  • β€’Own multi-site project delivery β€” commercial + industrial + Superfund + public-sector abatement contracts at $250k-$8M project value
  • β€’Direct-manage 3-8 supervisors + 15-60 field techs; hire + train + retain + discipline; run weekly PM meetings with client + IH + GC
  • β€’P&L ownership for the project + labor cost + waste-disposal cost + subcontractor management
  • β€’Contract + change-order negotiation with GC + owner; scope + schedule + budget deviation control
Next: Branch Manager / Regional Operations Manager at 15-22 years.
Branch Manager / Regional Operations Manager
14-22 yrs$115-215k salaried + 15-20% bonus + LTIP + equity + full executive benefits at Clean Harbors / US Ecology / Veolia / Stericycle scale
  • β€’Own a branch or region β€” 1-5 branch offices + 40-350 field employees + $10-95M revenue P&L
  • β€’Direct-manage 3-15 site superintendents + project managers + operations support + sales + safety + compliance
  • β€’Interface with regional client executives, corporate executive team, and outside regulatory + legal counsel (Beveridge & Diamond, Bracewell, King & Spalding environmental practice)
  • β€’Own regional safety + compliance record; OSHA recordable + DART rate + EMR (Experience Modification Rate) below industry benchmark
Next: VP Operations / Chief Operations Officer at 20+ years.
VP Operations / Chief Operations Officer / SVP
20+ yrs$215-395k+ base + 20-30% bonus + LTIP + equity + full executive benefits at Clean Harbors / US Ecology / Veolia + $100-450M+ revenue P&L
  • β€’Own enterprise operations at national scale β€” 10-40 branch offices + 500-3,500 field employees + $150-950M revenue P&L
  • β€’Report to CEO + Board; interface with major national accounts (US Army Corps of Engineers, EPA Superfund, DOE legacy sites, Fortune-500 industrial)
  • β€’Own enterprise safety + compliance record + OSHA VPP (Voluntary Protection Programs) status at flagship sites
  • β€’Corporate M&A + branch acquisition + geographic expansion + service-line expansion (from asbestos + lead into biohazard, e-waste, PFAS remediation, radiological decommissioning)

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through how you'd run a Class I asbestos abatement in a hospital.technical
Structured. (1) Pre-work β€” asbestos-abatement plan reviewed with the hospital facilities + infection-prevention team; asbestos NESHAP notification to EPA + state DEP 10+ days before demo; state work-practice notification; occupant + air-handling isolation plan. (2) Site preparation β€” critical barrier build (2 layers 6-mil polyethylene with reinforced tape seams); decontamination unit (3-stage: clean room + shower + equipment room) attached to the work area; HEPA-filtered negative-air machines (NAM) at 4-8 air changes per hour maintaining -0.02 inches water column negative pressure; HVAC lockout + return-air isolation. (3) PPE β€” full-face PAPR (powered air-purifying respirator) with P100 filters + Tyvek coveralls + boot covers + nitrile gloves + head covers; pre-shift respirator fit-test + medical clearance verification. (4) Removal β€” wet method (amended water spray) + glove-bag technique for pipe insulation TSI + slow-load bagging in 6-mil-double bags + drum containment; encapsulation for material not removed. (5) Air monitoring β€” personal PCM samples on 25% of workers minimum + area PCM at critical barrier + outside-containment perimeter; clearance sampling at 5 samples minimum per work area per NIOSH 7400 PCM + confirmation TEM per AHERA / state protocol. (6) Waste β€” Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest generated for RACM (regulated asbestos-containing material) transport to a state-permitted asbestos landfill (Waste Management Grassy Mountain UT, Republic Services East Carbon UT, Advanced Disposal Illinois). (7) Post-work β€” visual inspection + clearance-sampling pass + containment breakdown + decon unit cleanup + area re-occupancy release with third-party IH sign-off. Interviewers screen for candidates who can articulate every phase in the correct sequence and cite the correct regulation (29 CFR 1926.1101 + 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M).
Q2. You walk into a jobsite and see a crew member without proper PPE removing asbestos. What do you do?situational
Immediate stop-work. (1) Stop the work β€” verbal stop-work authority is delegated to every crew member on OSHA-compliant sites; the crew member does not have to be a supervisor to invoke it. (2) Isolate the exposed worker β€” remove them from the containment through the decon unit; document who was inside, for how long, and what work was being done. (3) Investigate β€” what happened? PPE failure, PPE not donned, PPE mid-shift removal, first-day crew member without fit-test, respirator cartridge exhaustion? (4) Report β€” OSHA-recordable evaluation under 29 CFR 1904; consider whether it triggers a mandatory OSHA report (fatality within 8 hours, hospitalization within 24 hours); notification to the site IH + client + third-party monitor. (5) Medical surveillance follow-up β€” if there was significant exposure, refer to OccMed provider for baseline sputum + chest x-ray + medical monitoring under 29 CFR 1926.1101 Appendix H. (6) Documented corrective action β€” root-cause analysis + toolbox meeting + PPE compliance re-training + supervisor discipline where warranted. (7) Never punish the worker for invoking stop-work authority. Interviewers screen for candidates who invoke stop-work immediately and don't rationalize letting the work continue.
Q3. Describe a complex remediation project you led from mobilization to closeout.behavioral
STAR. Situation: Site Superintendent at Clean Harbors leading a $2.4M asbestos + lead + mold + PCB remediation at a 1960s-era former GE electronics manufacturing plant in Schenectady, NY that was slated for redevelopment into mixed-use residential. Task: deliver the remediation on the 14-week schedule with zero OSHA recordable and full EPA + NY DEC compliance. Action: (1) mobilization β€” deployed 3 supervisors + 22 field techs across 2 shifts; established site-specific health and safety plan (HASP), site-specific emergency-response plan, decontamination unit build; (2) Class I asbestos abatement of 68,000 SF of TSI + surfacing ACM + floor tile mastic + roofing at 8-week schedule with 4 air-change-per-hour NAM at each of 4 critical work areas; (3) lead-paint abatement of 145,000 SF interior + exterior painted surfaces under HUD LSHR + EPA RRP + OSHA lead standard; (4) PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) transformer + capacitor removal + soil excavation under TSCA + 40 CFR Part 761 with EPA + NY DEC coordination; (5) mold remediation of 12 basement areas at IICRC S520; (6) waste manifesting under RCRA + TSCA for 340 drums + 82 roll-offs to Waste Management Grassy Mountain (asbestos) + Clean Harbors Deer Park TX (PCB) + Republic Services Cheyenne (lead-contaminated debris); (7) clearance testing + third-party IH sign-off + NY DEC final inspection. Result: delivered 3 days ahead of schedule + $145k under budget + zero OSHA recordable + full regulatory sign-off; site redevelopment cleared for construction on the following Monday. Interviewers screen for candidates who've led multi-scope hazmat projects at 8-figure value with clean safety + compliance records.
Q4. Why hazmat / abatement / remediation rather than general construction or environmental engineering?culture
Honest answer that resonates. 'I like regulated + high-stakes work β€” abatement + remediation sits at the intersection of OSHA + EPA + state DEP + client contract, and every day the work has real health-and-safety consequences for the crew + the occupants + the environment. Pay is real β€” union scale at LIUNA locals in high-cost metros is $34-48/hr at supervisor with full pension + healthcare + annuity, and the project manager + superintendent track at Clean Harbors / US Ecology / Veolia / Servpro / Belfor clears $95-135k salary + 12-15% bonus + LTIP. Certification-heavy field means the path is clear: OSHA HAZWOPER + asbestos + lead + supervisor + CIH + CSP + PMP, and the field rewards each credential with pay + scope. Long-term I want to move into a site-superintendent or project-manager seat at a national scale operator with Superfund + industrial + public-sector contract work.' Interviewers screen for candidates who chose the specialty deliberately.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Show the fork clearly. Field tech β†’ supervisor track (5-9 years to supervisor at $50-72k + benefits) β†’ superintendent + project manager track (9-15 years at $72-115k + bonus + LTIP) β†’ branch manager + regional ops track (14-22 years at $115-215k + LTIP + equity) β†’ VP Operations track (20+ years at $215-395k+ base + LTIP + equity). Alternate track: state-agency regulatory-inspector at EPA + state DEP (federal GS-9/11/12/13 at $58-125k + full FERS benefits) or third-party industrial-hygienist consulting at EMSL Analytical + Aerobiology + Reservoirs + Bureau Veritas + Ramboll + Environmental Standards. I'm on the operations-track. I've completed OSHA HAZWOPER + asbestos worker + supervisor + lead worker + IICRC WRT + AMRT, I'm on the CIH + CSP study track, and I'd like to move into a Site Superintendent seat at a national scale operator within 24-36 months. Longer-term target: Regional Operations Manager at 10-14 years and VP Operations within 18-22 years.

Resume Template β€” Site Supervisor / Foreman / Competent Person (4-11 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Site Supervisor / Foreman / Competent Person (4-11 yrs)
  • β–ΈSite Supervisor at Clean Harbors Environmental Services Northeast Region covering a $1.8M asbestos + lead abatement project at a former Raytheon manufacturing facility (72,000 SF Class I asbestos + 118,000 SF lead-paint abatement) with a 22-person field crew across 2 shifts on a 14-week schedule.
  • β–ΈZero OSHA recordable + zero DART incident + zero air-sampling clearance failure over 320 project-days as Site Supervisor; branch-office DART rate 0.8 vs 3.4 industry benchmark.
  • β–ΈOSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour + 8-hour refresher current; OSHA asbestos supervisor (Competent Person) + lead supervisor (Competent Person) + IICRC WRT + AMRT + AWR + ABRA Trauma & Crime Scene Practitioner; state asbestos + lead supervisor licenses in NY + NJ + CT + MA + PA.
  • β–Έ$68k base + $8.5k overtime + $6.5k target bonus + full LIUNA CBA benefits at $38/hr union scale.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Cannot cite the correct OSHA regulation (29 CFR 1910.120 for HAZWOPER, 29 CFR 1926.1101 for asbestos, 29 CFR 1926.62 for lead, 29 CFR 1910.1030 for BBP) or the correct EPA / state notification requirement (EPA NESHAP 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M for asbestos, 40 CFR Part 745 for lead RRP, 40 CFR Part 280 for UST, 40 CFR Part 761 for PCB) β€” signals candidate hasn't invested in the regulatory foundation.
  • βœ—History of OSHA-recordable + DART incidents on projects the candidate supervised β€” reference-check red flag; the industry EMR (Experience Modification Rate) is a hard filter at insurance underwriting and general-contractor prequalification.
  • βœ—No supervisor endorsement + Competent Person designation after 4+ years in seat with career ambition beyond field tech β€” the supervisor + superintendent track requires OSHA asbestos + lead supervisor + CIH / CSP + state licenses.
  • βœ—History of air-sampling clearance failures + waste-manifest discrepancies β€” signals a candidate who cuts corners on the documentation + monitoring discipline; expensive at project scale + regulatory audit exposure.
  • βœ—Cannot articulate stop-work authority + immediate response to a PPE / respirator failure β€” the culture-of-safety flag at every hazmat interview.
  • βœ—Weak PPE + respirator + medical-monitoring discipline β€” a candidate who talks about skipping respirator fit-tests or medical surveillance under 29 CFR 1910.120(f) is expensive at OSHA-audit + workers-comp exposure.
  • βœ—No CIH / CSP after 8+ years in seat with career ambition beyond supervisor β€” the Manager + Superintendent + Regional Ops track increasingly requires CIH + CSP + PMP.
  • βœ—History of NESHAP + state-DEP notification failures β€” signals disregard for the pre-work notification discipline that anchors the entire abatement regulatory framework.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Union scale premium β€” LIUNA + Building and Construction Trades hazmat + abatement locals in MA + NY + NJ + PA + IL + CA + WA + OR metros pay 15-30% above non-union scale for the same tenure + endorsements; full CBA benefits + pension + annuity + healthcare + apprenticeship credit.
  • βœ“Supervisor + Competent Person endorsement β€” OSHA asbestos + lead supervisor endorsement adds $6-14k at supervisor promotion; supervisor + Competent Person + IICRC WRT + AMRT + AWR + ABRA at once adds $12-22k.
  • βœ“CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist from ABIH) + CSP (Certified Safety Professional from BCSP) β€” the two elite credentials for supervisor + superintendent + project manager tier; adds $18-45k at Superintendent + PM promotion + is the single strongest signal for Manager + Regional Ops track.
  • βœ“PMP (Project Management Professional from PMI) β€” adds $8-18k at PM tier at Clean Harbors / US Ecology / Veolia / Servpro / Belfor; required or preferred at multi-site + Superfund project scope.
  • βœ“Metro premium β€” Northeast (Boston, NYC, Philly, DC) + West Coast (SF Bay Area, LA, Seattle, Portland) + Chicago pay 20-40% above US median for the same seat; union-scale metros are the top pay-lever.
  • βœ“Overtime + hazard-pay + per-diem β€” abatement + Superfund + emergency-response work routinely includes 15-25% hazard-pay premium + $75-125/day per-diem on out-of-town + double-time overtime past 12-hour day + weekend + holiday differential.
  • βœ“State inspector + risk-assessor + project-designer license tier β€” layered on the OSHA base; adds $3-10k at supervisor + superintendent tier + opens third-party consulting sideline income.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus β€” Supervisor + Superintendent + PM moves between Clean Harbors, US Ecology, Veolia, Stericycle, Servpro, Belfor routinely negotiate $8-25k sign-on to offset unvested LTIP + relocation.
  • βœ“Emergency response 24/7 on-call β€” Clean Harbors + Veolia + US Ecology emergency-response supervisors on-call at 15-25% base premium + response-shift call-out pay at 4-hour minimum + hazard pay.
  • βœ“Federal contract + Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage β€” DOE + DOD + EPA Superfund + Army Corps of Engineers projects at Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage rates typically 25-45% above private-sector for the same seat + full fringe benefits by contract.

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β€” Anonymous, Registered Nurse

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Career Growth Kit β€” $29

Already working as a hazardous materials removal workers? This kit is for building your case for the next promotion or raise β€” not for getting hired.

  • βœ“ Self-review draft mapped to hazardous materials removal workers competencies
  • βœ“ Promotion packet outline with evidence appendix structure
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day evidence-collection plan
  • βœ“ Promotion committee anticipation guide
  • βœ“ Tenure and pay reference bands by level
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$37K
$73Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

New York
$73K
+48%
Illinois
$61K
+24%
Alaska
$60K
+22%
District of Columbia
$60K
+22%
North Dakota
$60K
+22%
Washington
$60K
+22%
Tennessee
$60K
+22%
Colorado
$60K
+21%
Missouri
$59K
+20%
Minnesota
$59K
+20%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
New York$73,090+47.8%
Illinois$61,330+24.0%
Alaska$60,320+22.0%
District of Columbia$60,240+21.8%
North Dakota$60,160+21.7%
Washington$60,160+21.7%
Tennessee$60,090+21.5%
Colorado$59,920+21.2%
Missouri$59,120+19.6%
Minnesota$59,100+19.5%
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Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Kennewick-Richland, WA$104,530+111.4%
Pueblo, CO$79,260+60.3%
Amarillo, TX$77,580+56.9%
Knoxville, TN$75,280+52.2%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$74,060+49.8%
St. Louis, MO-IL$67,010+35.5%
Binghamton, NY$62,090+25.6%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$61,330+24.0%
Warner Robins, GA$61,170+23.7%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$60,390+22.1%
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Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A hazardous materials removal workers earning $49,450/year would need 1205 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1294 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how hazardous materials removal workers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Hazardous Materials Removal Workers salary trend (2011–2024) β†’