Statewide pay Government data
Hazmat removal workers in California earn a statewide median of $56,120 a year, 16% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #12 of 50 states and DC. About 7,340 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near California
See all states on the hazmat removal worker overview.
Pay by city Government data
BLS publishes hazmat removal worker pay for 13 California metros: Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oxnard, Riverside, Sacramento, Salinas, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Maria, Stockton and Vallejo.
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San JoseCALIFORNIA · CA | $60,390 | $54,690 | 250 |
| San FranciscoCALIFORNIA · CA | $59,580 | $51,534 | 1,410 |
| VallejoCALIFORNIA · CA | $55,960 | $51,586 | 220 |
| FresnoCALIFORNIA · CA | $54,570 | $53,417 | 210 |
| San DiegoCALIFORNIA · CA | $51,790 | $46,288 | 670 |
| Santa MariaCALIFORNIA · CA | $51,260 | $47,115 | 90 |
| Los AngelesCALIFORNIA · CA | $51,160 | $45,049 | 2,470 |
| SacramentoCALIFORNIA · CA | $50,490 | $47,333 | 450 |
| BakersfieldCALIFORNIA · CA | $50,240 | $49,799 | 150 |
| SalinasCALIFORNIA · CA | $49,390 | $45,294 | 100 |
| OxnardCALIFORNIA · CA | $48,650 | $44,014 | 180 |
| StocktonCALIFORNIA · CA | $48,360 | $46,018 | 110 |
| RiversideCALIFORNIA · CA | $47,950 | $45,048 | 450 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for California's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,300 openings a year. Typical training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, hazmat removal workers have 71 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 18% below the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is falls, slips and trips.
What the work is like Government data
How often hazmat removal workers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Licensed contractors Government data
California had 297 active C-22 Asbestos Abatement contractor licenses in October 2026. A California contractor license is required to bid jobs of $1,000 or more in labor and materials; working as an employee doesn't need one.
California Contractors State License Board, License Master file, October 2026 (active licenses only).
Licensing in California Official source
The main state licensing office in California is the Contractors State License Board. Licenses all trades by classification (e.g. C-10 electrical; C-36 plumbing). It can point you to the right license for hazmat removal workers.
Official California licensing site ↗
Requirements for hazmat removal workers vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 14.9% of wage and salary workers in California were union members, above the U.S. rate of about 10% (#8 of 51 states and D.C.), and 16.7% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only hazmat removal workers.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Cities in California
All trades in California.