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

The median hazardous materials removal worker in Pennsylvania earns $47,860 per year, which works out to roughly $23.01 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure sits in the middle of a range that runs from $44,520 at the 25th percentile (~$21.40/hr) up to $59,520 at the 75th percentile (~$28.62/hr). All figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The gap between the bottom and top of that range — about $15,000 a year — tells you something important about this trade. Workers on the lower end are typically newer to the field, handling lower-complexity removal jobs, or working for smaller contractors with thinner margins. Workers clearing $59,520 or more are usually certified across multiple hazard types, have years of hands-on experience, and are often placed on larger commercial or government remediation contracts where the work is more technically demanding.

Hazmat removal in Pennsylvania covers a broad set of tasks: asbestos abatement in older industrial and school buildings, lead paint removal, mold remediation, and soil or groundwater decontamination at brownfield sites. The state has a significant stock of aging infrastructure — steel mills, coal facilities, older row homes, and pre-1980 schools — that keeps demand for qualified removal workers steady across many regions. Workers who hold certifications in more than one removal category are generally more valuable to contractors and can move between project types as demand shifts.

Certification requirements in Pennsylvania are set by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Asbestos workers, for example, must complete an EPA-accredited training program and maintain their certification through annual refresher courses. Lead abatement workers face a similar licensing structure. These credentials are not optional — working without them on regulated projects is a legal violation and can cost a contractor their license. Holding current, multi-discipline certifications is one of the clearest ways to move from the $44,520 range toward the upper end of the pay scale.

Geography plays a real role in where you land within the state's pay range. The Philadelphia metro area and its surrounding counties tend to see higher wages because of the concentration of large remediation contracts, commercial renovation projects, and institutional clients like hospitals and universities. The Pittsburgh area also has substantial hazmat work tied to legacy industrial sites and ongoing brownfield redevelopment. Workers in more rural parts of central or northern Pennsylvania may find fewer large contracts and more competition on smaller jobs, which can keep wages closer to or below the state median.

Overtime is a meaningful income factor in this trade. Hazmat projects often run on tight deadlines — a school building needs to be abated before the academic year starts, or a remediation site has a regulatory completion date. That creates periods of concentrated, extended hours. A worker at the median rate of $23.01/hr earns roughly $34.52 per hour at time-and-a-half. Ten overtime hours in a week adds about $345 before taxes. Over a project stretch of several weeks, that adds up in a way that base salary figures alone don't show.

Some hazmat removal workers in Pennsylvania are covered by collective bargaining agreements. If you're in a unionized position, the specific pay scales, benefits, and working conditions that apply to you are spelled out in your local's agreement — check that document directly for accurate figures, since the BLS data reflects the full mix of union and non-union workers across the state.

Experience progression is real but not automatic. Workers who take on crew lead or site supervisor responsibilities, maintain a clean safety record, and keep their certifications current are the ones who push past the 75th percentile threshold. Adding supervisor-level credentials — such as an asbestos project designer or air monitoring technician certification — opens the door to roles that go beyond physical removal work and typically command higher pay. The jump from $47,860 to $59,520 is achievable, but it requires deliberate effort on the certification and experience side.