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Salary comparison

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss land at $49,450 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: hazardous materials removal worker programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss is New York ($73,090); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$49,450
$47,120
Hourly rate
$23.78/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$38,460
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$82,410
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
51,710
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
New York
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Hazardous Materials Removal Workers median pay.

State
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Construction Laborers
New York
$73,090
$55,930
Illinois
$61,330
$60,690
Alaska
$60,320
$58,060
Washington
$60,160
$57,720
Missouri
$59,120
$56,730
Minnesota
$59,100
$60,260
Hawaii
$58,440
$77,110
California
$56,120
$60,270
New Jersey
$55,900
$64,060
Oregon
$49,720
$50,860
Massachusetts
$49,620
$63,390
Wisconsin
$47,750
$56,100
Connecticut
$47,090
$58,290
Rhode Island
$46,670
$57,240
Ohio
$46,620
$56,080

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss or Construction Laborerss?

Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $49,450 for Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Hazardous Materials Removal Workers or Construction Laborers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Hazardous Materials Removal Workers or Construction Laborers?

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss at $73,090/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Hazardous Materials Removal Workers vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss earn $73,090 vs. $55,930 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Hazardous Materials Removal Workers salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Hazardous Materials Removal Workerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a hazardous materials removal workersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →