Construction and extraction
Hazardous materials removal worker
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.
Median pay
$49,450
Growth to 2035
+2%
little or no change
Openings a year
4,300
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Hazardous materials removal worker
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Hazardous materials removal worker: 57% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
- Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
- Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
- Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
- Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
- Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
- Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.
- Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.
Also called: 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)
Outlook and AI
Hazardous materials removal workers held 52,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 53,500 by 2035 (+2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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- Hazardous materials removal worker vs. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment