Salary guide
Hazardous Materials Technician Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What hazardous materials technicians earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median hazardous materials technician salary in the U.S. is $49,450 per year, or $23.78 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $38,460, while the top 10% earned more than $82,410.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Hazardous Materials Technician pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,460 | $18.49 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 | $21.50 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $49,450 | $23.77 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $61,530 | $29.58 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $82,410 | $39.62 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $44,720 | $49,450 | $61,530 |
| Per month | $3,727 | $4,121 | $5,128 |
| Every two weeks | $1,720 | $1,902 | $2,367 |
| Per week | $860 | $951 | $1,183 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects hazardous materials technician pay
- Required credentials (HAZWOPER, CSP, state inspector or operator licenses)
- Government versus private-sector employment
- Hazard level and emergency-response duties
- Industry (construction, energy, chemical and federal contracting)
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a hazardous materials technician
- Get credentialed: OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour, Asbestos abatement worker license, Lead abatement worker certification.
- Build specialty experience: Lead crews and oversee procedures.
- Move up: roles such as abatement supervisor or site safety officer and environmental project manager typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Hazardous Materials Technician pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of hazardous materials technicians to change by +1.5% from 2025–35, slower than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 4,300 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 47-4041 (“Hazardous materials removal workers”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Hazardous Materials Technician salary FAQ
How much does a hazardous materials technician make per hour?
The median hourly wage for hazardous materials technicians was $23.78 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $18.49 and the top 10% earned about $39.62 or more.
How much does a hazardous materials technician make a month?
At the median annual wage of $49,450, that works out to about $4,121 per month before taxes, or about $1,902 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a hazardous materials technician?
New hazardous materials technicians often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $38,460 and the 25th percentile was $44,720 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can hazardous materials technicians earn more?
Common ways include earning OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour and Asbestos abatement worker license, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as abatement supervisor or site safety officer.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 47-4041 (Hazardous materials removal workers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Hazardous materials removal workers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.