How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in the US in 2026?
$49,450
National median (BLS OEWS May 2025)
In 2026, hazardous materials removal workers earn the most in New York (~$73,090) and the least in Louisiana (~$38,000), with a national median of $49,450 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Last updated June 2026.
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Highest median pay
New York
$73,090
Most jobs
California
7,340 jobs
Across 25 states: $38,000–$73,090 (median $48,960).
49,450 reasons to know what hazardous materials removal workers actually earn — and that's just the national median. According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the middle of the pay range runs from $44,720 at the 25th percentile up to $61,530 at the 75th. That's a $16,810 spread even before you account for state-level differences. TradesPays currently covers this trade across 25 states, and the state-by-state gap is significant: workers in New York report a state median of $73,090, while Louisiana sits at $38,000 — a $35,090 difference. Hazmat removal covers asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, mold remediation, and other regulated-waste work. It's physically demanding, requires specific certifications, and carries real liability for employers, all of which shapes what this trade earns. The numbers here reflect what workers in this trade are actually being paid, not what a job posting promises.
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker pay by state
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $73,090 |
| 2 | Illinois | $61,330 |
| 3 | Washington | $60,160 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $60,090 |
| 5 | Colorado | $59,920 |
| 6 | Missouri | $59,120 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $59,100 |
| 8 | California | $56,120 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $55,900 |
| 10 | Arizona | $50,530 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $49,620 |
| 12 | South Carolina | $49,170 |
| 13 | Georgia | $48,960 |
| 14 | Maryland | $48,640 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $47,860 |
Where is the union premium biggest for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers?
Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.
We don't have union scale data for Hazardous Materials Removal Worker across our states yet — these states are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Hazardous Materials Removal Worker.
Union landscape
TradesPays does not currently have union scale data for hazardous materials removal workers in any of the 25 states we cover. That's an honest gap, not a judgment on union membership in this trade. Some workers in hazmat removal may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement, depending on their employer, their state, and the specific type of removal work they perform. If you're in a union shop or considering one, your local is the only reliable source for current negotiated wage rates, benefit contributions, and scale tiers. Those figures change with each contract cycle and won't always match what you see in BLS survey data. We're not going to guess at union rates or generalize about whether union or non-union work pays more in this trade — the data we have doesn't support that comparison. If you have access to a current collective bargaining agreement covering hazmat removal work, we'd encourage you to use those contract figures directly rather than relying on survey medians.
What we don't track yet
A few honest limits worth knowing before you draw conclusions from these numbers. First, TradesPays does not have metro-level pay data for hazardous materials removal workers. State medians are useful, but they can mask wide variation — a worker running abatement jobs in a major city is likely seeing different rates than someone doing the same work in a rural county of the same state. The $73,090 New York state median, for example, is shaped heavily by where the work is concentrated. Second, we don't currently break out pay tiers by certification level or experience stage — no apprentice, journeyman, or master breakdown exists in our dataset for this trade. Certification requirements (state abatement licenses, EPA accreditation, OSHA training completions) do influence pay in practice, but we can't quantify those differences yet. If you work in hazmat removal and have wages or contract data you're willing to share, we want it. Worker-submitted data helps fill the gaps that surveys miss. Use the submission form on your state's hazardous materials removal page to send us what you're seeing on the ground.
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker pay: FAQ
- What is the national median wage for hazardous materials removal workers?
- According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median is $49,450 per year. A quarter of workers earn below $44,720 (p25), and a quarter earn above $61,530 (p75).
- Which state pays hazardous materials removal workers the most in the TradesPays dataset?
- New York has the highest state median in our current 25-state dataset at $73,090. Illinois is second at $61,330, followed by Washington at $60,160.
- Which state has the lowest pay for this trade in your data?
- Louisiana is the lowest in our set at a state median of $38,000. That's a $35,090 gap compared to New York — a real difference that reflects regional labor markets and the types of projects driving demand in each state.
- How many states does TradesPays cover for hazardous materials removal workers?
- We currently cover this trade in 25 states. Coverage is ongoing, so if your state isn't listed yet, check back or use the submission form to flag it.
- Does certification affect pay for hazmat removal workers?
- In practice, yes — state abatement licenses, EPA accreditation, and specific OSHA training completions tend to influence what employers pay. However, TradesPays does not currently have data that breaks out wages by certification level for this trade, so we can't give you a precise dollar figure on that difference.
- Is there metro-level pay data available for hazardous materials removal workers?
- Not yet on TradesPays. We have state-level medians for 25 states, but city or metro breakdowns for this trade aren't in our dataset at this time. If you have local wage data to contribute, use the submission form on your state's page.
- What types of work does this trade classification include?
- Hazardous materials removal workers cover a range of regulated work: asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, mold remediation, and other hazardous waste handling. The specific work type, the certifications it requires, and the regulatory environment all play into what workers are paid.
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