How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in Arizona in 2026?

Hazardous materials removal workers in Arizona earn a median wage of $50,530 per year, which works out to roughly $24.29 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of workers in this trade earn more, half earn less. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The pay spread in Arizona is notably compressed. The 25th percentile sits at $45,430 per year ($21.84/hr), and the 75th percentile is $51,220 per year ($24.63/hr). That's a difference of only $5,790 annually between a newer worker and an experienced one in the middle-to-upper tier. A compressed range like this typically reflects consistent baseline pay set by contract terms, licensing requirements, or prevailing wage rules on public projects — even without a published union scale available for this trade in Arizona.

No union scale is available for hazardous materials removal workers in Arizona at this time. That doesn't mean union work doesn't exist here — it means a reliable published scale wasn't available to report. Workers covered under Davis-Bacon or state prevailing wage contracts on public projects may see wages above the BLS figures.

What actually moves pay in this trade? Certifications matter a lot. Workers credentialed to handle specific materials — asbestos, lead, mold, or radiological waste — can command higher rates than those with only general hazmat training. The type of project also plays a role: demolition and abatement on large commercial or industrial sites typically pays more than residential work. Supervisory roles, such as site foreman or project lead, push wages above the 75th percentile. Night shifts, emergency response callouts, and confined-space work also tend to come with pay premiums.

Geography within Arizona factors in as well. The Phoenix metro area, as the state's dominant construction and demolition market, generally supports higher wages and more consistent work volume than rural areas. Tucson has a smaller but steady market. Remote or industrial sites — mines, power plants, and military installations — sometimes offer higher compensation to offset travel or hazard exposure.

Hours in this trade can be irregular. Project-based work means stretches of overtime followed by gaps between contracts. When overtime kicks in at 1.5x the base rate, a worker earning the median $24.29/hr base sees $36.44/hr for every hour past 40. That adds up quickly on a two-week abatement job with weekend work built in.

Entry-level workers coming into this trade in Arizona without prior certification typically start at or below the 25th percentile — $45,430/yr ($21.84/hr). Getting certified in asbestos abatement, lead removal, or OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER early is the most direct path to moving past that floor. Many employers reimburse certification costs or provide on-the-job training, so it's worth asking up front before taking a starting offer.

For experienced workers already above the median, the path to top-end pay in Arizona runs through supervisory credentials, specialty certifications (particularly for radiological or industrial chemical work), and positioning on larger federal or state-funded projects where prevailing wage rules apply. Workers who can document a clean safety record, hold multiple certifications, and manage a small crew are the ones pulling wages above what the 75th percentile reflects.