Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Asbestos Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Remover
- Asbestos Worker
- Waste Handling Technician
Alternate Job Titles
- Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Coverer
- Asbestos Handler
- Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Remover
- Asbestos Technician
- Asbestos Worker
- Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator)
- Decontamination Worker
- Disaster Restoration Technician
- Hazard Waste Handler
- Hazardous Material Specialist
- Hazardous Materials Driver (Hazmat Driver)
- Hazardous Materials Handler
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Public Safety and Security
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Control Precision
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Category Flexibility
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Jenkins CI
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable wrenches
- Aerosol meters
- Air monitoring equipment
- Air pollutant monitors
- Air sampling devices
- Air sampling pumps
- Air scrubbers
- Alpha radiation meters
- Asbestos sample containers
- Beta radiation meters
- Blowers
- Borescopes
- Bulldozers
- Chemical agent detectors
- Chemical protective aprons
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Exposed to Contaminants
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $37,330 |
| Median | $48,490 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $82,480 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 50,570
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Recycling and Reclamation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,940
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,260
Highway Maintenance Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,070
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,140
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,350
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.