Skilled Trades
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
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 salary
$48,490
Typical range
$37k – $82k
Job outlook
+1% (about average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Education
Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Entry / Junior
$37,330
~2 yrs to advance
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Established
$48,490
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Senior
$65,485
Key skills
A typical day
- •Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
- •Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
- •Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.
- •Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
- •Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.