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Hazmat technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$49,450median pay per year, or $23.78 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $38,460lowest 10% earn less
  2. $44,72025th percentile
  3. $49,450median
  4. $61,53075th percentile
  5. $82,410top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Hazardous materials removal workers had a median pay of $49,450 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow more slowly than all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.5%[2]
Openings per year
4,300[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do hazmat technicians make?

The median wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers was $49,450 a year, or $23.78 an hour[1]. The average was $56,430 a year, or $27.13 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[5]. So the typical hazmat pay sat a little under the all-occupations figure.

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,460 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $44,720[4]. At the top, the highest-paid 25% earned more than $61,530, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $82,410[4]. Hourly, those same points were $18.49, $21.50, $29.58 and $39.62[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

Point Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $38,460 $18.49
Median[1] $49,450 $23.78
90th percentile[4][9] $82,410 $39.62

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. About 51,710 people held these jobs[12].

Pay by state and city

New York had the highest state median at $73,090, followed by Illinois at $61,330 and Alaska at $60,320[13]. Arkansas had the lowest listed median at $36,630[13].

California had the most jobs with 7,340, then Texas with 4,450 and New York with 4,090[14]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kennewick-Richland, WA had the highest median at $104,530, followed by Amarillo, TX at $77,580 and Knoxville, TN at $75,280[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 3,770, with a median of $74,060[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$73,0904,090
Illinois$61,3301,980
Alaska$60,320140
District of Columbia$60,24050
North Dakota$60,160170
Washington$60,1603,250
Tennessee$60,090570
Colorado$59,9201,400
Missouri$59,120370
Minnesota$59,100730
Hawaii$58,440340
California$56,1207,340
New Jersey$55,9002,250
New Hampshire$55,310140
Montana$54,540250
New Mexico$53,440680
South Dakota$51,420190
Arizona$50,530800
Iowa$49,870270
Oregon$49,7201,130
Idaho$49,710600
Massachusetts$49,6202,770
Utah$49,240530
South Carolina$49,170870
Georgia$48,960460
Maryland$48,640660
Wyoming$48,57030
Nebraska$48,540210
Pennsylvania$47,8601,590
Wisconsin$47,750590
Kentucky$47,640460
Nevada$47,520400
Maine$47,280190
Connecticut$47,090750
Vermont$46,78070
Indiana$46,680990
Rhode Island$46,670330
Ohio$46,620830
West Virginia$46,390130
Michigan$46,3801,610
Kansas$45,530480
Virginia$45,320930
Texas$44,3904,450
Oklahoma$44,300650
Delaware$44,250n/a
North Carolina$43,1801,250
Florida$42,3501,780
Mississippi$39,440250
Alabama$38,610350
Louisiana$38,000880
Arkansas$36,630440

How to become a hazmat technician

The usual path is short on schooling and heavy on training.

How long training takes depends on the regulations and the type of material[23]. Some states require permits or licenses for each type of waste, especially asbestos and lead, and requirements differ by state[24][25]. Apprenticeships are another route that include hands-on teaching and certification tests[26]. The training details come from a profile of hazmat removal workers[27].

What hazmat technicians do

O*NET describes the job as identifying, removing, packing, moving or disposing of hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead paint, waste oil and contaminated soil[28]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as asbestos abatement worker, mold damage technician and clandestine laboratory responder[30].

Where they work

Conditions depend on the material. Lead and asbestos work often happens in confined spaces or at height, and may involve bending and stooping[31]. These workers are usually in buildings being renovated or torn down[32]. The work can be physically demanding[33]. Emergency and disaster responders may be outside in all kinds of weather[31].

The work is dangerous, so crews follow set safety procedures, usually in teams led by a team leader or site supervisor[34]. Protective gear includes coveralls, gloves, shoe covers and eye protection. Some jobs require sealed suits worn for hours, and very toxic cleanups call for respirators[35].

The BLS reports that remediation and other waste management services employed 62% of these workers in 2025[36]. Most are employed full time, and overtime is common for some, especially emergency responders[37].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, about 800 jobs, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. Those counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 4,300 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 4.5% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with a low entry barrier. A high school diploma and on-the-job training are the typical route[7]. Median pay is close to the all-occupations median, and the top 10% earned over $82,410[1][5][4]. Growth is slower than average, though openings continue to appear[2][3][6]. The work is physically demanding and involves safety gear and dangerous materials[33][34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a hazmat technician make an hour?
The median was $23.78 an hour and the average was $27.13 an hour[1][8].
What education do you need to be a hazmat technician?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with on-the-job training[7].
Is hazmat removal in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 1.5% against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 4,300 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for hazmat removal workers?
New York had the highest state median at $73,090[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in the US was $49,450 per year and $23.78 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Hazardous Materials Removal Workers is projected to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 52,700 to 53,500 jobs (a change of +800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: 10th percentile $38,460, 25th percentile $44,720, 75th percentile $61,530, 90th percentile $82,410. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,300 openings for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers was $56,430 per year and $27.13 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: 10th percentile $18.49, 25th percentile $21.50, 75th percentile $29.58, 90th percentile $39.62. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 51,710 people were employed as Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Hazardous Materials Removal Workers jobs: California 7,340; Texas 4,450; New York 4,090; Washington 3,250; Massachusetts 2,770. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kennewick-Richland, WA $104,530; Amarillo, TX $77,580; Knoxville, TN $75,280; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $74,060; St. Louis, MO-IL $67,010; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $61,330; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $60,390; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $60,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Hazardous Materials Removal Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,770 (median $74,060); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,470 (median $51,160); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,980 (median $49,930); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,620 (median $60,290); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,580 (median $61,330); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,410 (median $44,420). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Hazardous Materials Removal Workers. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 47-4041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Abatement Worker, Asbestos Abatement Worker, Asbestos Worker, Clandestine Laboratory Responder (Clan Lab Responder), D and D Operator (Decontaminate and Decommissioning Operator), D and D Operator (Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator), Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician), Mold Damage Technician (Mold Damage Tech). O*NET OnLine
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of hazardous materials removal workers in 2025: Remediation and other waste management services 62%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.