Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary
In Pennsylvania, hazardous materials removal workers earn $47,860 at the median, or about $23.01 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $50,395 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 40.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Pennsylvania?
About hazardous materials removal workers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Hazardous materials removal workers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $49K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 41.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level hazardous materials removal workers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg | $55K | +16% | 30 |
| Reading | $54K | +14% | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $49K | +3% | 890 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $48K | +1% | 110 |
| Pittsburgh | $47K | -2% | 430 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $47K | -2% | N/A |
| Lancaster | $46K | -4% | 70 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $45K | -7% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track hazardous materials removal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hazardous materials removal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 41.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hazardous materials removal workers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,254/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $49K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for hazardous materials removal workers?
Pennsylvania pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $47,860 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,570, and experienced hazardous materials removal workers can clear $72,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,252/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 41.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $50,395 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.