How to become a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker

Official title: Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

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), Product Disposal Coordinator, Waste Handling Technician (Waste Handling Tech)

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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Hazmat removal workers typically need a high school diploma and are trained on the job. Workers may complete training that follows Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Some hazmat removal workers need federally or state-mandated training, licensing, or permits, depending on the type of waste remediation.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Licence: A licence is required in 27 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $49,450 a year The middle half earn $44,720 to $61,530.
• About 52,700 people work in this job now, and about 53,500 are projected by 2035. (+1.5%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Construction and Building Inspectors
• Energy Auditors
• Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
• Fence Erectors
• Highway Maintenance Workers
• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker?

Hazmat removal workers typically need a high school diploma and are trained on the job. Workers may complete training that follows Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Some hazmat removal workers need federally or state-mandated training, licensing, or permits, depending on the type of waste remediation.

How much does a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $49,450 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $44,720 to $61,530.

Is a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 52,700 people now and 53,500 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker?

Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Hazardous Materials Removal Worker?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.