Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary in Lake Charles, LA
In Lake Charles, LA, hazardous materials removal workers earn $37,600 at the median — $18.08 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.85), which stretches that salary to about $43,797 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,217/month — about 47.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K get you in Lake Charles?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lake Charles’s Regional Price Parity (85.85). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lake Charles, LA
Entry-level hazardous materials removal workers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $65K | +34% | 480 |
| Minnesota | $64K | +31% | 420 |
| New York | $63K | +29% | 3,660 |
| Idaho | $61K | +26% | 520 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | +25% | N/A |
| Washington | $60K | +23% | 2,850 |
| District of Columbia | $58K | +21% | 40 |
| Hawaii | $56K | +16% | 440 |
| New Jersey | $56K | +16% | 2,090 |
| Illinois | $56K | +15% | 1,810 |
| California | $55K | +13% | 7,950 |
| North Dakota | $54K | +12% | N/A |
| Alaska | $54K | +11% | 280 |
| Montana | $52K | +8% | 160 |
| New Mexico | $52K | +8% | 940 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +4% | N/A |
| Iowa | $50K | +3% | 370 |
| Ohio | $50K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +1% | 2,550 |
| Indiana | $49K | +1% | 800 |
| Vermont | $49K | +1% | 90 |
| South Dakota | $49K | +1% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | +1% | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $49K | +0% | 1,230 |
| Nebraska | $48K | -1% | 240 |
| Nevada | $47K | -2% | 700 |
| Michigan | $47K | -2% | 960 |
| Arizona | $47K | -2% | 560 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -3% | 870 |
| Kentucky | $47K | -3% | 320 |
| Maryland | $47K | -3% | 830 |
| Missouri | $47K | -3% | 210 |
| Maine | $46K | -4% | 230 |
| Virginia | $46K | -5% | 1,290 |
| Utah | $46K | -6% | 220 |
| Texas | $45K | -7% | 3,260 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | -7% | 370 |
| Connecticut | $45K | -8% | 730 |
| Georgia | $44K | -9% | 610 |
| West Virginia | $44K | -9% | 180 |
| North Carolina | $42K | -14% | 1,210 |
| Kansas | $41K | -16% | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -18% | 430 |
| Delaware | $39K | -19% | N/A |
| Alabama | $39K | -20% | 490 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -20% | 390 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -21% | 610 |
| Florida | $38K | -21% | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -23% | 1,020 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track hazardous materials removal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lake Charles numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median is $37,600 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,380, and experienced hazardous materials removal workers can clear $53,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Lake Charles?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,217/month, which eats 46.9% 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 Lake Charles?
Lake Charles has a Regional Price Parity of 85.85 (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 $43,797 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.