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

The median hazardous materials removal worker in Tennessee earns $60,090 per year, which works out to roughly $28.89 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure sits in the middle of a real range — workers at the 25th percentile earn $46,440 annually ($22.33/hr), while those at the 75th percentile pull in $75,400 per year ($36.25/hr). That's a spread of nearly $29,000 from the lower end to the upper end, which tells you experience, certifications, and the type of hazmat work you do matter a lot.

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

The work itself drives a lot of the pay variation. Hazmat removal covers asbestos abatement, lead paint remediation, mold mitigation, radiological decontamination, and chemical or industrial waste removal. Workers handling the more technically demanding materials — radiological or chemical waste, for example — typically land higher on the pay scale. Workers primarily doing residential asbestos or lead jobs tend to cluster closer to the median or below it. If you're early in your career doing straightforward abatement, $22–$24/hr is a realistic starting point. Once you've built a record of EPA- and OSHA-regulated project experience and hold multiple certifications, crossing $30/hr is very achievable.

Tennessee has enough industrial and environmental remediation activity to support steady demand for hazmat workers. The greater Nashville area, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga all have active commercial construction, demolition, and industrial remediation markets. Workers based in these metro areas tend to see more consistent year-round work and have more access to larger commercial contracts, which generally pay better than smaller residential jobs. Rural areas may offer fewer opportunities and can have more seasonal fluctuation tied to construction cycles.

Licensing and certification directly affect your earning ceiling in this trade. Tennessee requires hazardous waste operations (HAZWOPER) training under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120. A 40-hour HAZWOPER card is essentially the floor. Beyond that, EPA accreditation for asbestos abatement and lead renovation, repair, and painting (RRP) certification are standard credentials that open more job types. Workers with Supervisor-level certifications — rather than just Worker-level — consistently earn more. Some employers also pay a premium for DOT hazmat transportation endorsements. Each credential you add is a concrete reason to negotiate a higher hourly rate.

Overtime is a real part of this trade's total compensation picture. Emergency response work, large-scale industrial cleanups, and time-sensitive demolition projects can all drive significant overtime hours, particularly for workers employed by environmental remediation contractors. At the median base rate of $28.89/hr, time-and-a-half overtime comes to about $43.34/hr. Workers who regularly work 50- or 55-hour weeks can add $10,000–$15,000 or more to their annual take-home compared to a straight 40-hour schedule, depending on how often those situations arise with their employer.

Per diem and travel pay are also factors the BLS wage data does not fully capture. Workers who travel to job sites outside their home area — which is common in large remediation contracts — often receive tax-free per diem on top of their base hourly rate. That can meaningfully increase total compensation without showing up in the OEWS figures. When comparing job offers, ask specifically whether travel pay and per diem are included and what the rate is.

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

To move your pay toward the upper end of the range, the clearest levers are: add supervisor-level certifications, pursue work on larger commercial or industrial projects rather than residential-only work, build experience with higher-hazard material types that fewer workers are qualified to handle, and target employers who hold large multi-year remediation contracts rather than those doing one-off smaller jobs. The difference between $22/hr and $36/hr in this trade is almost entirely explained by certification level, years of documented field experience, and the complexity of the work you're trusted to manage.