Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary
In Chattanooga, TN-GA, hazardous materials removal workers earn $59,140 at the median, or about $28.43 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $64,662 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in Chattanooga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chattanooga’s Regional Price Parity (91.46). 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 Chattanooga
Chattanooga sits well above the national pay line for hazardous materials removal workers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. Rent runs $1,390/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hazardous materials removal workers in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $75K | $81K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $59K | $61K |
| Memphis | $48K | $53K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $45K | $46K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level hazardous materials removal workers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $58K 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 states
Track hazardous materials removal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hazardous materials removal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,390/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hazardous materials removal workers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,371/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Chattanooga?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $59K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for hazardous materials removal workers?
Chattanooga pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $59,140 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,520, and experienced hazardous materials removal workers can clear $97,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,130/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 33.7% 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 Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has a Regional Price Parity of 91.46 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hazardous materials removal workers salary is worth about $64,662 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.