# Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

US SOC code 47-4041. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/47-4041

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **51,710** US hazardous materials removal workers, with median pay of **$49,450** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-history-printable-version) of **5,000** from 1983, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for hazardous materials removal workers: In-situ remediation technologies, 2010 to 2020. In-situ remediation is generally less labor-intensive per site than excavation-and-disposal, contributing to flat employment growth even as the number of sites receiving attention remained large.

Figures: Official statistic (latest count and pay, highest count); Researched context (earliest figure).

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-4041&ioType=o) (Official statistic).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Hazardous Materials Removal Workers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1973
- Latest US employment: 51,710 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $49,450 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Outlook: +1.5% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [14]

### All 26 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1983 | 5,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., EPA Superfund History [1] |
| 1990 | 18,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., OSHA HAZWOPER background [2] |
| 2000 | 34,070 | $28,520 | BLS OEWS 2000 [3] |
| 2003 | 36,590 | $32,710 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 38,550 | $33,320 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 38,260 | $33,690 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 38,740 | $35,450 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 39,530 | $36,330 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 42,500 | $37,310 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 41,100 | $37,280 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 36,910 | $37,600 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 36,270 | $38,120 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 37,440 | $37,590 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 40,290 | $37,930 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 42,250 | $38,520 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 42,560 | $39,690 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 44,280 | $40,640 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 43,260 | $41,400 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 44,000 | $42,030 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 44,240 | $43,900 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 44,010 | $45,270 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 44,240 | $46,300 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 46,780 | $46,690 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 49,960 | $47,280 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 50,570 | $48,490 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 51,710 | $49,450 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (70)

### Employment series

1. [EPA Superfund History: First National Priorities List (406 sites, 1983) -- Superfund program origins and early remediation workforce](https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-history-printable-version), US Environmental Protection Agency
2. [OSHA HAZWOPER background: Final Rule published March 6, 1989, effective March 6, 1990 (29 CFR 1910.120); SARA 1986 mandate; workforce context from OSHA background page](https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/hazardous-waste-operations/background), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
3. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

5. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

7. [EPA Overview of the Asbestos NESHAP (40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M; first promulgated April 6, 1973)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/overview-asbestos-national-emission-standards-hazardous-air-pollutants-neshap), US Environmental Protection Agency
8. [Eurofins USA -- "The History of Asbestos Regulation in the US" (EPA NESHAP 1973, regulatory timeline)](https://web.archive.org/web/20250415185826/https://www.eurofinsus.com/environment-testing/built-environment/resources/recent-news-blogs/blog-the-history-of-asbestos-regulation-in-the-us/), Eurofins USA
9. [OSHA HAZWOPER Background (29 CFR 1910.120, SARA mandate, March 6, 1989 Final Rule, effective March 6, 1990)](https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/hazardous-waste-operations/background), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
10. [OSHACode -- "History of HAZWOPER" (RCRA 1976, CERCLA 1980, SARA 1986 mandate, NIOSH/OSHA/EPA/Coast Guard joint guidance manual)](https://oshacode.com/history-of-hazwoper/), OSHACode EHS Training
11. [EPA Superfund 40th Anniversary Look-Back: 2010s innovation (XRF, direct-push probes, geophysical tools, 3D visualization introduced)](https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfunds-40th-anniversary-look-back-decades), US Environmental Protection Agency
12. [EPA Lead Abatement Program (TSCA sections 402/404): XRF and certification requirements for lead-based paint activities](https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-abatement-program-training-and-certification-program-lead-based-paint-activities-tsca), US Environmental Protection Agency
13. [GAO -- "Nuclear Waste Cleanup: Changes Needed to Address Current and Growing Shortages in Mission-Critical Positions" (2024; DOE EM nuclear cleanup workforce context)](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106479), US Government Accountability Office

### Forecasts and exposure studies

14. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 47-4041 Hazardous materials removal workers (2025: 52.7 thousand; 2035: 53.5 thousand; +1.5%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-4041&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Historical notes

15. [Eurofins USA -- "The History of Asbestos Regulation in the US" (EPA identification of asbestos hazard, 1970-1971)](https://web.archive.org/web/20250415185826/https://www.eurofinsus.com/environment-testing/built-environment/resources/recent-news-blogs/blog-the-history-of-asbestos-regulation-in-the-us/), Eurofins USA
16. [EPA -- "Love Canal Revealed a National Problem; Superfund Provided a Solution" (Love Canal emergency, 1978; CERCLA origins)](https://www.epa.gov/archive/epa/newsreleases/love-canal-revealed-national-problem-superfund-provided-solution.html), US Environmental Protection Agency
17. [EPA Superfund CERCLA Overview (CERCLA signed December 11, 1980; $1.6 billion trust fund; federal cleanup authority)](https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-cercla-overview), US Environmental Protection Agency
18. [Illinois EPA -- "History of Superfund" (1983 National Priorities List, 406 sites)](https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/cleanup-programs/federal-sites/history-of-superfund.html), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency / EPA
19. [EPA Asbestos NESHAP Overview (AHERA 1986, school abatement requirements, Model Accreditation Plan training courses)](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/overview-asbestos-national-emission-standards-hazardous-air-pollutants-neshap), US Environmental Protection Agency
20. [OSHACode -- "History of HAZWOPER" (HAZWOPER Final Rule, March 6, 1989; four-agency collaboration; SARA mandate)](https://oshacode.com/history-of-hazwoper/), OSHACode EHS Training
21. [EPA -- Superfund 40th Anniversary Look-Back (5,000th emergency removal action, 1998; Brownfields job training 1,000th participant milestone)](https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfunds-40th-anniversary-look-back-decades), US Environmental Protection Agency
22. [GAO -- "Nuclear Waste Cleanup: Changes Needed to Address Current and Growing Shortages in Mission-Critical Positions" (GAO-24-106479, 2024; 18% vacancy rate, 44% retirement-eligible by 2030)](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106479), US Government Accountability Office

### Predecessors & successors

23. [BLS OOH -- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: construction laborers perform some hazmat cleanup, a note on the occupational boundary](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/hazardous-materials-removal-workers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
24. [GAO -- "Nuclear Waste Cleanup" report (DOE EM mission-critical workforce; nuclear cleanup workers from operations background)](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106479), US Government Accountability Office

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-21
- [O\*NET 30.3 — US Department of Labor](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), accessed 2026-05-21

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.