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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.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43,260 | 2.7 % | $22.27 | $46,330 | 1.1 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.92 | $15.86 | $19.91 | $27.69 | $36.14 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $26,880 | $32,980 | $41,400 | $57,600 | $75,160 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 28,020 | 19.85 | $22.09 | $45,950 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 4,260 | 4.47 | $23.45 | $48,780 |
| Waste Collection | 1,740 | 1.01 | $18.73 | $38,970 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 1,150 | 0.17 | $21.49 | $44,690 |
| Employment Services | 1,140 | 0.03 | $16.87 | $35,100 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 28,020 | 19.85 | $22.09 | $45,950 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 4,260 | 4.47 | $23.45 | $48,780 |
| Waste Collection | 1,740 | 1.01 | $18.73 | $38,970 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 1,150 | 0.17 | $21.49 | $44,690 |
| Residential Building Construction | 1,040 | 0.14 | $26.55 | $55,230 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail Transportation | 30 | 0.01 | $35.35 | $73,520 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 80 | 0.02 | $31.05 | $64,590 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 280 | 0.04 | $30.37 | $63,170 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 530 | 0.03 | $30.12 | $62,640 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 50 | 0.02 | $27.77 | $57,760 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,790 | 0.35 | 1.14 | $22.72 | $47,260 |
| New York | 4,770 | 0.52 | 1.71 | $30.46 | $63,350 |
| Texas | 4,130 | 0.35 | 1.14 | $18.27 | $37,990 |
| Ohio | 2,140 | 0.40 | 1.31 | $22.25 | $46,290 |
| Florida | 1,630 | 0.19 | 0.64 | $17.26 | $35,900 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 370 | 1.15 | 3.81 | $29.62 | $61,600 |
| Idaho | 750 | 1.10 | 3.62 | $29.68 | $61,730 |
| Hawaii | 480 | 0.76 | 2.51 | $22.25 | $46,270 |
| New Mexico | 540 | 0.67 | 2.20 | $27.94 | $58,120 |
| Rhode Island | 310 | 0.64 | 2.12 | $22.33 | $46,450 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 4,770 | 0.52 | 1.71 | $30.46 | $63,350 |
| Washington | 1,430 | 0.45 | 1.48 | $29.88 | $62,150 |
| Idaho | 750 | 1.10 | 3.62 | $29.68 | $61,730 |
| Alaska | 370 | 1.15 | 3.81 | $29.62 | $61,600 |
| New Mexico | 540 | 0.67 | 2.20 | $27.94 | $58,120 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 3,680 | 0.55 | 1.81 | $32.06 | $66,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,340 | 0.30 | 0.99 | $22.18 | $46,140 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,280 | 1.13 | 3.72 | $21.30 | $44,310 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 980 | 0.33 | 1.10 | $18.45 | $38,370 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 900 | 0.36 | 1.19 | $19.14 | $39,810 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 890 | 0.62 | 2.04 | $20.24 | $42,090 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 650 | 0.55 | 1.81 | $13.09 | $27,220 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 630 | 5.62 | 18.51 | $34.44 | $71,630 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 550 | 0.47 | 1.55 | $20.14 | $41,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 530 | 0.14 | 0.48 | $26.14 | $54,380 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 630 | 5.62 | 18.51 | $34.44 | $71,630 |
| Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, MA-NH NECTA Division | 400 | 4.85 | 15.97 | $23.34 | $48,550 |
| Amarillo, TX | 190 | 1.67 | 5.49 | $30.62 | $63,690 |
| Longview, TX | 130 | 1.40 | 4.62 | $16.71 | $34,750 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 70 | 1.34 | 4.40 | $16.69 | $34,720 |
| Gary, IN Metropolitan Division | 350 | 1.31 | 4.32 | $24.29 | $50,530 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 450 | 1.15 | 3.80 | $18.23 | $37,920 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,280 | 1.13 | 3.72 | $21.30 | $44,310 |
| Anchorage, AK | 180 | 1.02 | 3.35 | $26.09 | $54,260 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 460 | 0.99 | 3.27 | $22.00 | $45,750 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utica-Rome, NY | 100 | 0.79 | 2.62 | $37.49 | $77,980 |
| Knoxville, TN | 260 | 0.69 | 2.29 | $35.57 | $73,990 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 630 | 5.62 | 18.51 | $34.44 | $71,630 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 3,680 | 0.55 | 1.81 | $32.06 | $66,680 |
| Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY Metropolitan Division | 490 | 0.38 | 1.24 | $30.82 | $64,100 |
| Amarillo, TX | 190 | 1.67 | 5.49 | $30.62 | $63,690 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 100 | 0.26 | 0.84 | $28.79 | $59,870 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 450 | 0.27 | 0.91 | $28.50 | $59,280 |
| Flint, MI | 30 | 0.25 | 0.81 | $27.11 | $56,400 |
| Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.54 | $55,210 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Ohio non-metropolitan area | 560 | 3.57 | 11.78 | $30.43 | $63,290 |
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 210 | 0.63 | 2.09 | $21.16 | $44,010 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 2.59 | 8.54 | $33.23 | $69,110 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.37 | 1.22 | $17.16 | $35,680 |
| South Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.71 | 2.34 | $16.84 | $35,020 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Ohio non-metropolitan area | 560 | 3.57 | 11.78 | $30.43 | $63,290 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 2.59 | 8.54 | $33.23 | $69,110 |
| South Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.71 | 2.34 | $16.84 | $35,020 |
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 210 | 0.63 | 2.09 | $21.16 | $44,010 |
| Central Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.39 | 1.30 | $20.81 | $43,280 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 2.59 | 8.54 | $33.23 | $69,110 |
| Central Washington nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $31.26 | $65,020 |
| Southern Ohio non-metropolitan area | 560 | 3.57 | 11.78 | $30.43 | $63,290 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.48 | $55,090 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.19 | $54,480 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018