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Career overview · SOC 47-4041

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.

Also called: Abatement Worker · Asbestos Abatement Worker · Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker · Asbestos Remover · Asbestos Worker · Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator)

Median pay (national)
$48,490
$37,330–$82,480 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
50,570
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1%
~5,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for hazardous materials removal workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $82,480 versus $37,330 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $48,490 leaves roughly 70% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 5,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, Tennessee pays the most for this role (median $65,080, +34% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $26,180 — a 149% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
  • Load or unload materials into containers or onto trucks, using hoists or forklifts.
  • Clean mold-contaminated sites by removing damaged porous materials or thoroughly cleaning all contaminated nonporous materials.
  • 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.
  • Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
  • Remove or limit contamination following emergencies involving hazardous substances.
  • Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.

Tools & technology

  • Jenkins CI
  • SAP software
  • Computerized maintenance management system software CMMS
  • Database software
  • Inventory management systems
  • Xactware Xactimate
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word

Knowledge areas

  • Public Safety and Security
  • Administration and Management
  • Transportation
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
  • English Language
  • Mathematics