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

Hazardous materials removal workers in Georgia earn a median of $48,960 a year, which works out to roughly $23.54 an hour. That's the midpoint — half the workers in this trade in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just breaking into the field or working entry-level jobs, the 25th percentile sits at $39,860 a year ($19.16/hr). Workers with more experience, certifications, or specialized project types tend to land in the upper range, where the 75th percentile reaches $54,660 a year ($26.28/hr). All figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025.

The spread between the bottom and top quartiles is about $14,800 a year. That's a meaningful gap, and it doesn't close by accident. The workers pushing toward $54,660 typically hold multiple certifications — think EPA 40-hour HAZWOPER, asbestos abatement worker or supervisor licenses, and lead abatement certifications. Georgia requires state licensing for asbestos and lead work, and holding those credentials gives you access to larger commercial and industrial contracts that pay more per hour.

The type of work matters just as much as credentials. Asbestos abatement in older commercial buildings, lead paint removal in pre-1978 housing, mold remediation, and emergency response spill cleanup all fall under this trade, but they don't pay identically. Emergency response and industrial site cleanups tend to pay at the higher end of the scale because they involve tighter timelines, more hazardous exposure conditions, and heavier personal protective equipment requirements. Routine residential lead or mold jobs, while still skilled work, more often land in the lower-to-middle portion of the range.

Geography within Georgia also plays a role. The Atlanta metro area — Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Cobb counties — concentrates the most construction activity and the most commercial remediation contracts. Workers based there generally have more steady hours and better access to the higher-paying jobs. Savannah has seen increased industrial activity tied to port expansion and manufacturing, which creates demand for hazmat workers on construction and site-prep projects. Smaller markets in rural parts of the state tend to have fewer active contracts and more competition for the ones that do exist.

Hours and overtime matter, too. This is not a 9-to-5 trade. Emergency response work can mean nights, weekends, and extended shifts. When those hours hit overtime, an hourly rate of $23.54 becomes $35.31 for every hour past 40. Workers who are willing and available for emergency callouts can meaningfully boost their annual take-home beyond what the standard salary figures show.

No union scale is currently available for this trade in Georgia, so wages are set largely by employer, project type, and individual negotiation. That makes it especially important to know where you stand relative to the benchmarks above. If you're at or below $19.16/hr with a few years of experience and your HAZWOPER certification current, you have a reasonable case for a raise or a move to a contractor paying closer to the median.

On the cost-of-living side, Georgia's overall cost of living runs below the national average, which means $48,960 a year stretches further here than in states like California or New York where hazmat workers may post higher nominal wages but face much steeper housing and transportation costs. That context matters when comparing offers or evaluating a relocation decision.

The bottom line: a fully certified, experienced hazardous materials removal worker in Georgia can realistically expect to earn between $48,960 and $54,660 annually. Getting there means keeping certifications current, seeking out industrial and commercial contracts over purely residential work, and staying available for the higher-paying emergency and time-sensitive jobs that come up in major metro markets.