Hazardous Material Removal Workers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$49,450
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$23.77
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$82,410
entry level starts ~$38,460
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 52,000 employed

How much does a Hazardous Material Removal Workers make?

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in the United States bring home a median salary of $49,450 a year, or around $23.77 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $38,460, while the top 10% earn $82,410.

That is $11,940 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Hazardous Material Removal Workers salary range by percentile

Half of all Hazardous Materials Removal Workers earn between $44,720 and $61,530 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,460$18.49
25th percentile (early career)$44,720$21.50
50th percentile (median)$49,450$23.77
75th percentile (experienced)$61,530$29.58
90th percentile (top earners)$82,410$39.62

Highest-paying states for Hazardous Material Removal Workers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Hazardous Material Removal Workers pay at $73,090 a year, followed by Illinois ($61,330) and Alaska ($60,320). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $36,630 — a gap of $36,460 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New York$73,090$35.14+48%
2Illinois$61,330$29.49+24%
3Alaska$60,320$29.00+22%
4District of Columbia$60,240$28.96+22%
5North Dakota$60,160$28.92+22%

Workforce and education

About 52,000 people work as Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $56,430 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Hazardous Material Removal Workers make in the United States?
The median Hazardous Material Removal Workers salary in the United States is $49,450 per year, or about $23.77 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,460, while the top 10% of earners make $82,410 or more.
How does Hazardous Material Removal Workers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Hazardous Material Removal Workers median of $49,450 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Hazardous Materials Removal Workers the most?
New York is the highest-paying state for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers, with a median salary of $73,090 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Hazardous Material Removal Workers?
Becoming a Hazardous Material Removal Workers typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Hazardous Materials Removal Workers work in the United States?
About 52,000 people were employed as Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.