How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in South Carolina in 2026?

Hazardous materials removal workers in South Carolina earn a median of $49,170 per year, which works out to roughly $23.64 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the middle of the pack — half the workers in this trade in the state earn more, half earn less. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

The spread across the pay scale is wide and worth understanding. Workers at the 25th percentile — those early in their careers or in lower-paying roles — bring home around $45,320 annually, about $21.79 per hour. Workers at the 75th percentile earn $65,360 a year, which is $31.42 per hour. That $20,000 gap between the bottom quarter and the top quarter tells you there's real room to move up in this field. Your experience level, certifications, and the type of hazmat work you specialize in all drive where you land in that range.

The type of hazardous material you're trained and certified to handle makes a significant difference in pay. Workers who hold certifications for asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, mold remediation, and chemical or industrial waste disposal each follow different licensing tracks, and employers pay accordingly. Workers credentialed for multiple hazmat categories are more valuable on job sites and typically sit closer to or above the 75th percentile. In South Carolina, asbestos abatement is regulated by DHEC (the Department of Health and Environmental Control), which requires specific supervisor and worker certifications before you can legally perform that work. Getting those credentials is not optional — it's the floor, not the ceiling.

Entry-level workers just completing their initial 40-hour HAZWOPER training and required certifications typically start near or below the 25th percentile at roughly $21–$22 per hour. After a few years of site experience, additional certifications, and a track record working cleanups, remediation projects, or demolition prep, crossing the $25–$30 per hour threshold is realistic. Reaching the 75th percentile at $31.42/hr usually means you've built a specialty, accumulated multiple licenses, and possibly moved into a lead worker or site supervisor role.

Geography within South Carolina also plays a role. The Columbia metro area and the Charleston metro — both home to significant commercial, industrial, and government infrastructure — generate more consistent hazmat work than rural parts of the state. Industrial corridor work along the I-26 and I-77 corridors, along with federal facility remediation work in the Aiken/Augusta area tied to the Savannah River Site, can push wages higher due to project complexity and federal contractor pay rates. Workers willing to travel to these project hotspots rather than staying in one local market often see meaningfully higher annual earnings.

Overtime is a real factor in this trade. Hazmat jobs are frequently tied to project timelines, remediation deadlines, and regulatory compliance windows that push crews to work more than 40 hours a week. At the median rate of $23.64 per hour, a single 10-hour overtime week adds roughly $354 to a paycheck (at time-and-a-half). Workers who consistently pick up overtime during active project seasons can add $5,000–$10,000 or more to their annual earnings, well above what the base salary figures alone suggest.

No union scale is available for this trade in South Carolina. The state has a limited union presence in hazmat removal specifically, and most workers operate under contractor or direct-hire arrangements. That means negotiating your own rate matters. Workers who document their certifications clearly, show a clean safety record, and bring demonstrated experience with specific materials types are in a stronger position when discussing hourly rates with contractors.

The BLS figures here represent wage income only. They do not include per diem payments, which are common on out-of-town remediation projects and can add meaningfully to total take-home. They also exclude any tool or equipment allowances some contractors provide. Your real annual earnings may exceed the figures shown if your employer pays per diem or project bonuses on larger cleanups.

If you're looking to push your pay toward or past $31/hr in South Carolina, the clearest levers are: stack certifications beyond your base HAZWOPER card, pursue asbestos supervisor or lead abatement supervisor credentials, seek out federally contracted remediation projects which often pay at or above Davis-Bacon wage rates, and position yourself in markets like Charleston or the Savannah River corridor where project volume and complexity run higher.