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Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in West Virginia
Want to work as a Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in West Virginia? Here’s what the data says. 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.
What do Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Make in West Virginia?
The hazardous materials removal workers working in West Virginia, the typical annual salary is $43,910 per year (or roughly $21.11/hour).Annual wages span from $36,040 at the 10th percentile to $64,250 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| 25th percentile | $37,470 | $18.01 |
| Median (50th) | $43,910 | $21.11 |
| 75th percentile | $51,670 | $24.84 |
| 90th percentile | $64,250 | $30.89 |
The job concentration index in West Virginia relative to the national average — is 0.78, meaning fewer hazardous materials removal workers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, hazardous materials removal workers earn a median of $31,832 per year ($15.30/hour), above the West Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 380,120 hazardous materials removal workers in the U.S.. In West Virginia alone, around 180 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 610 hazardous materials removal workers.
Top West Virginia Metros for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
The largest metro-area employers of hazardous materials removal workers in West Virginia.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 90 | $40,610 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 30 | $40,290 |
Top States for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Employment
View the states that employ the most hazardous materials removal workers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 7,950 |
| New York | 3,660 |
| Texas | 3,260 |
| Washington | 2,850 |
| Massachusetts | 2,550 |
| Florida | 2,300 |
| New Jersey | 2,090 |
| Colorado | 1,950 |
| Illinois | 1,810 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,600 |
| Virginia | 1,290 |
| Oregon | 1,230 |
| North Carolina | 1,210 |
| Ohio | 1,160 |
| Louisiana | 1,020 |
| Michigan | 960 |
| New Mexico | 940 |
| South Carolina | 870 |
| Maryland | 830 |
| Indiana | 800 |
Highest-Paying States for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Where hazardous materials removal workers earn the most: hazardous materials removal workers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | $65,080 |
| Minnesota | $63,560 |
| New York | $62,610 |
| Idaho | $61,230 |
| New Hampshire | $60,540 |
| Washington | $59,840 |
| Colorado | $58,790 |
| District of Columbia | $58,490 |
| Hawaii | $56,100 |
| New Jersey | $56,040 |
Skills
Top hazardous materials removal workers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for hazardous materials removal workers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
- Sort specialized hazardous waste at landfills or disposal centers, following proper disposal procedures.
Work Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Processing Information
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Jenkins CI
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Related occupations to hazardous materials removal workers include:
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Also Known As
Abatement Worker, Asbestos Abatement Worker, Asbestos Coverer, Asbestos Handler, Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker, Asbestos Remover, Asbestos Technician, Asbestos Worker, Decontamination Worker, Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator), Disaster Restoration Technician, Hazard Waste Handler, Hazardous Material Specialist, Hazardous Materials Driver (Hazmat Driver), Hazardous Materials Handler.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-4041.00