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

Hazardous materials removal workers in Maryland earn a median of $48,640 per year, which works out to roughly $23.38 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure sits right in the middle of the spread — a quarter of workers in this trade earn less than $46,730 (~$22.47/hr), and a quarter earn more than $56,360 (~$27.10/hr). The distance between the bottom and top of that range — about $9,630 per year — reflects real differences in experience, certification level, and the type of hazmat work being performed.

This is not a trade where pay moves dramatically from year one to year five, but it does move. Entry-level workers without specialized certifications typically land near or below the 25th percentile at $46,730. Once you've accumulated field hours and obtained credentials like an EPA 40-hour HAZWOPER certification or state-specific asbestos abatement licensing, employers have more reason to push your rate upward. Workers who can handle multiple hazmat categories — asbestos, lead, mold remediation, and chemical or radiological materials — are more valuable than those limited to a single specialty, and their pay tends to reflect that.

Maryland's geographic spread matters here. The Baltimore metro and the Washington, D.C. suburbs (Montgomery County, Prince George's County) generate a steady stream of hazmat work tied to older commercial and residential building stock, government facility remediation, and infrastructure projects. Workers positioned in those corridors generally have more job density and, in some cases, higher effective pay due to project competition. More rural areas of Western Maryland or the Eastern Shore may have fewer available projects, which can affect both hours worked and the leverage you have when negotiating rates.

Overtime is a meaningful factor in this trade. Hazmat projects often run on tight deadlines — a building can't be reoccupied until remediation is complete and clearance testing passes. That creates pressure to get the work done fast, which frequently translates into extended shifts. A worker earning $23.38/hr at straight time earns $35.07/hr on overtime. A week with 10 hours of overtime adds roughly $350 to a paycheck. Over the course of a busy remediation season, those hours add up significantly above the BLS annual figure, which captures base wages and does not account for overtime premiums.

The BLS OEWS data behind these numbers is collected from employer payroll records and reflects wages paid — it does not include overtime premiums, per diem allowances, or hazard pay bonuses that some employers offer for particularly dangerous site conditions. It also doesn't capture the value of employer-provided PPE, training reimbursements, or health benefits. When comparing offers, those items matter and deserve a real dollar estimate alongside the base hourly rate.

Maryland requires workers performing asbestos abatement to hold a state-issued license through the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Lead paint removal work on pre-1978 structures also requires specific certification. Workers who hold both asbestos and lead certifications — and maintain them through continuing education requirements — are in a stronger position than those holding only one credential. Some contractors will cover the cost of training and certification for workers they want to keep; if yours doesn't, it's worth negotiating that as part of your compensation package.

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

If you're looking to push your pay above the 75th percentile of $56,360 (~$27.10/hr), the clearest paths are expanding your certification portfolio, moving into supervisory or site-safety officer roles, or targeting federal and state government remediation contracts, which tend to pay more than private-sector work on a comparable job. Foremen and crew leads on hazmat projects regularly earn above the top quartile, and workers who take on safety officer responsibilities add value that most employers will compensate directly.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.