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

The median hazardous materials removal worker in Indiana earns $46,680 per year, which works out to roughly $22.44 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of Indiana workers in this trade earn more, half earn less.

The full spread matters more than the median alone. Workers at the 25th percentile earn $43,530 annually ($20.93/hr), meaning the lower-paid quarter of the workforce clusters fairly close to the median. At the 75th percentile, pay climbs to $55,690 per year ($26.77/hr). That top-quartile figure represents a roughly 19% premium over the median — achievable through experience, specialization, and job-site conditions, not just seniority.

The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is about $12,160 per year. That's meaningful, and it reflects how much certification level, hazard type, and employer type move the needle in this trade. Workers certified for asbestos abatement, lead abatement, and mold remediation each carry separate credentials in Indiana, and holding multiple certifications tends to push pay toward the upper end of the range.

Hazmat removal work in Indiana spans several sectors. Industrial facilities — steel plants, refineries, and manufacturing complexes around Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago in the northwest corridor — generate steady demand for workers certified in asbestos and lead removal. Indianapolis and its surrounding suburbs produce a consistent pipeline of commercial demo and renovation projects. Smaller metros like Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend have their own project cycles, but work can be less continuous in those markets, which is worth factoring in when weighing a job offer.

Overtime is a real part of the compensation picture here. Hazmat projects often run on compressed schedules to limit building downtime or comply with regulatory deadlines. A worker earning $22.44/hr at straight time brings in $33.66/hr for every hour past 40. On a week with 10 hours of overtime, that adds about $336 to the paycheck. Workers on active remediation projects — particularly emergency response or large industrial shutdowns — can see substantial overtime income on top of their base rate.

Physical hazard pay and per diem can also push total compensation above what the BLS wage data captures. The BLS OEWS survey records straight wages and salaries; it does not include overtime premiums, hazard differentials, per diem travel pay, or benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. If a job offer includes a daily per diem for travel — common on out-of-town industrial projects — that money is on top of the hourly rate and adds up quickly across a multi-week shutdown.

The regulatory side of this trade matters for pay progression. Indiana follows federal OSHA requirements under 29 CFR 1926.1101 for asbestos and 29 CFR 1926.62 for lead. Workers need initial training and annual refresher courses to stay certified. Supervisors must complete additional training hours on top of what laborers need. Moving from worker to supervisor status is one of the clearest paths to higher pay in this field — supervisors typically sit at or above the 75th percentile.

Some workers in this trade may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

Starting out, most new hires in Indiana land somewhere near or below the 25th percentile at $43,530 ($20.93/hr). With two to four years of field experience, solid certifications across multiple hazard types, and a clean safety record, crossing the median is realistic. Reaching the 75th percentile at $55,690 ($26.77/hr) typically requires either supervisor credentials, a specialty niche like emergency response or mold remediation, or consistent placement on industrial shutdown projects where pay scales run higher.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release, for Indiana.