Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary
In Boulder, CO, hazardous materials removal workers earn $47,160 at the median, or about $22.67 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.2), so that salary is closer to $44,829 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,033/month, about 62.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $47K actually covers in Boulder, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boulder’s Regional Price Parity (105.2). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About hazardous materials removal workers
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What this looks like in Boulder
Hazardous materials removal workers pay in Boulder tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $49K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,033/month, which is 64.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.2), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hazardous materials removal workers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $60K | $57K |
| Colorado Springs | $56K | $55K |
| Greeley | $57K | $57K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $51K | $49K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level hazardous materials removal workers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Hazardous Materials Removal Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $73K | +48% | 4,090 |
| Illinois | $61K | +24% | 1,980 |
| Alaska | $60K | +22% | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $60K | +22% | 50 |
| North Dakota | $60K | +22% | 170 |
| Washington | $60K | +22% | 3,250 |
| Tennessee | $60K | +22% | 570 |
| Colorado | $60K | +21% | 1,400 |
| Missouri | $59K | +20% | 370 |
| Minnesota | $59K | +20% | 730 |
| Hawaii | $58K | +18% | 340 |
| California | $56K | +13% | 7,340 |
| New Jersey | $56K | +13% | 2,250 |
| New Hampshire | $55K | +12% | 140 |
| Montana | $55K | +10% | 250 |
| New Mexico | $53K | +8% | 680 |
| South Dakota | $51K | +4% | 190 |
| Arizona | $51K | +2% | 800 |
| Iowa | $50K | +1% | 270 |
| Oregon | $50K | +1% | 1,130 |
| Idaho | $50K | +1% | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | +0% | 2,770 |
| Utah | $49K | -0% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -1% | 870 |
| Georgia | $49K | -1% | 460 |
| Maryland | $49K | -2% | 660 |
| Wyoming | $49K | -2% | 30 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -2% | 210 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -3% | 1,590 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -3% | 590 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -4% | 460 |
| Nevada | $48K | -4% | 400 |
| Maine | $47K | -4% | 190 |
| Connecticut | $47K | -5% | 750 |
| Vermont | $47K | -5% | 70 |
| Indiana | $47K | -6% | 990 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | -6% | 330 |
| Ohio | $47K | -6% | 830 |
| West Virginia | $46K | -6% | 130 |
| Michigan | $46K | -6% | 1,610 |
| Kansas | $46K | -8% | 480 |
| Virginia | $45K | -8% | 930 |
| Texas | $44K | -10% | 4,450 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -10% | 650 |
| Delaware | $44K | -11% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $43K | -13% | 1,250 |
| Florida | $42K | -14% | 1,780 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -20% | 250 |
| Alabama | $39K | -22% | 350 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -23% | 880 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -26% | 440 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track hazardous materials removal workers salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a hazardous materials removal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 64.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,033/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hazardous materials removal workers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hazardous materials removal workers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,070/month. At HUD’s $2,033/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is hazardous materials removal worker a high-paying job in Boulder?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $49K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for hazardous materials removal workers?
Boulder pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $47,160 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,820, and experienced hazardous materials removal workers can clear $61,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,155/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,033/month, which eats 64.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a hazardous materials removal workers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 105.2 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hazardous materials removal workers salary is worth about $44,829 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hazardous materials removal workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.