Career comparison
Environmental Engineering Technician vs. Hazardous Materials Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Environmental engineering technicians earn more at the median ($59,920 vs. $49,450), while hazardous materials technicians usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of required training of training). Environmental engineering technicians help engineers monitor, test and clean up pollution in soil, water and air. Hazardous materials technicians safely remove and clean up asbestos, lead, chemicals and other hazardous materials.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Environmental Engineering Technician | Hazardous Materials Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $59,920 ($28.81/hr) | $49,450 ($23.78/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $39,910 – $96,660 | $38,460 – $82,410 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.1% (about as fast as average) | +1.5% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 4,300 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 2 years | 1–4 weeks of required training |
| Key credential | OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER | OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour |
| Work setting | Technicians work outdoors at industrial, construction and contaminated sites in all weather, and in offices and labs. | Hazmat technicians work at demolition and renovation sites, industrial facilities, contaminated land and emergency scenes. |
What each job does
Environmental Engineering Technician
- Collect soil, water and air samples
- Install and maintain monitoring equipment
- Operate and maintain remediation systems
- Inspect stormwater and pollution controls
- Record field data and chain of custody
Hazardous Materials Technician
- Set up regulated areas, containment and decontamination zones
- Identify hazardous materials and review safety data and site plans
- Remove asbestos, lead paint, mold or contaminated materials using approved methods
- Wear and maintain respirators and chemical protective clothing
- Decontaminate workers, tools and equipment
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, hands-on work, and travel. Both are part of the safety & environmental field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose environmental engineering technician if…
- I want to help protect the environment
- I like working outdoors
- I’m careful with procedures and records
Choose hazardous materials technician if…
- I follow safety procedures exactly, every time
- I can work in hot, heavy protective gear
- I want a fast path into a skilled field
Still torn? Take the Environmental Engineering Technician fit quiz and the Hazardous Materials Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, environmental engineering technician or hazardous materials technician?
Environmental Engineering Technicians earn more at the median: $59,920 versus $49,450 for hazardous materials technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Hazardous Materials Technicians typically train faster (1–4 weeks of required training) than environmental engineering technicians (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects environmental engineering technicians to grow +3.1% from 2025–35, compared with +1.5% for hazardous materials technicians.