Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Salary
In South Carolina, hazardous materials removal workers earn $49,170 at the median, or about $23.64 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $52,774 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 37.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in South Carolina?
About hazardous materials removal workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Carolina
Hazardous materials removal workers pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $49K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 37.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, South Carolina
Entry-level hazardous materials removal workers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers salary by metro in South Carolina
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $49K | +1% | 80 |
| Columbia | $47K | -4% | 130 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $47K | -5% | 80 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $40K | -18% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track hazardous materials removal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a hazardous materials removal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 37.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hazardous materials removal workers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,270/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $49K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for hazardous materials removal workers?
South Carolina pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hazardous materials removal workers make in South Carolina?
The median is $49,170 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,840, and experienced hazardous materials removal workers can clear $102,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,336/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 37.9% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $52,774 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.