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

The median annual wage for hazardous materials removal workers in Minnesota is $59,100, which works out to roughly $28.41 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's a meaningful benchmark, but it doesn't tell the full story — the spread from entry-level to experienced workers is wide, and where you land on that range depends heavily on what type of hazmat work you do, who you work for, and how many hours you put in.

At the 25th percentile, workers earn around $47,660 per year ($22.91/hr). These are typically newer workers who have their certifications but haven't yet built a long track record in the field. Entry wages in hazmat removal are still considerably higher than most general labor positions, and that premium reflects the risk, the training requirements, and the regulatory burden the work carries.

The 75th percentile sits at $80,700 annually, or about $38.80 per hour. Workers at this level tend to specialize — asbestos abatement supervisors, lead abatement project managers, or crews working on large-scale industrial or environmental remediation contracts often land in this range. Getting from the median to the 75th percentile typically means picking up supervisor credentials, branching into more complex removal categories, or moving to contractors that handle major public-sector or commercial projects.

In Minnesota, hazmat removal work spans a range of environments. The Twin Cities metro area — Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs — carries the highest volume of work due to older commercial building stock, school abatement programs, and active urban redevelopment projects. Duluth and the Iron Range also generate steady work tied to industrial cleanup, particularly around legacy mining and manufacturing sites. Greater Minnesota tends to offer fewer steady contracts, which can mean more travel or seasonal fluctuation for workers outside the metro.

Certification and licensing drive pay more directly in this trade than in most others. Minnesota requires workers doing asbestos abatement to hold a state-issued license through the Minnesota Department of Health. Workers certified as Asbestos Abatement Supervisors or Project Designers generally command rates toward the upper end of the scale. Adding lead abatement certification (EPA RRP or state-equivalent) or training in mold remediation and industrial waste handling broadens the work you can take on and increases your leverage with employers.

Overtime is common on large commercial or public-sector abatement projects, especially when a building must be cleared on a strict timeline before demolition or renovation crews move in. For a worker at the median rate of $28.41/hr, a 50-hour week — standard during busy project pushes — adds roughly $213 in weekly overtime pay (time-and-a-half on the 10 hours above 40). Over a full busy season, overtime can add several thousand dollars to annual take-home pay.

The BLS OEWS figures here are based on May 2025 survey data and cover employees — they don't capture owner-operators billing project rates, under-the-table arrangements, or the full value of employer-paid benefits like respirator fit-testing, medical monitoring (required under OSHA 1910.1001 for asbestos workers), and PPE. When evaluating a job offer, factor those benefits in — medical surveillance alone has real dollar value.

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

To move your pay upward, the most direct routes are: earning your Minnesota Department of Health supervisor license, stacking certifications across multiple hazard types, and targeting contractors that win large public demolition or remediation bids rather than small residential jobs. Residential asbestos removal pays less per hour and offers fewer hours than commercial and industrial work. If you have the certifications and the track record, positioning yourself as a crew lead or site supervisor is the single biggest jump most workers can make within this trade.

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