Prevailing Wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Prevailing wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers under SOC 47-4041 is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys across more than 130 metropolitan areas. Whether you work as an Abatement Worker, Asbestos Abatement Worker, or Asbestos Remover, DOL assigns one of four experience levels to each sponsored position, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on where the worksite is located.
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Level 1 covers entry-level workers new to hazardous materials removal, typically with limited field experience and no specialized lead or asbestos certification yet. Tasks are closely supervised, and the worker follows established abatement procedures without independent judgment.
Level 2 applies to qualified workers with hands-on abatement experience and relevant certifications such as EPA-accredited asbestos or lead removal training. This is the most common filing level for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers, reflecting standard full-performance field roles.
Level 3 covers experienced workers who operate with significant independence, may supervise small crews on abatement projects, and hold multiple hazmat or confined-space certifications. Employers file at this level for lead technicians and senior decontamination operators.
Level 4 applies to fully competent professionals in senior or lead roles, such as site supervisors or D and D Operators overseeing complex radioactive or multi-hazard decommissioning projects. These workers set work methods and exercise broad technical authority on-site.
Prevailing Wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your certification matches the filed level
EPA-accredited asbestos abatement or lead renovation certification is typically expected at Level 2 and above. If your offer lists Level 1 wages but requires certification, the wage level may be under-filed, and you can request a correction before the LCA is certified.
Watch for low-wage metros in abatement-heavy regions
Some Southern metros where hazardous materials removal work is concentrated, such as Hattiesburg and Brownsville, have prevailing wages well below the national median. If your job offer cites a worksite in a low-wage area, confirm the worksite address on the LCA matches where you will actually work.
Know which title aliases trigger a different SOC
Titles like Environmental Technician or Remediation Specialist are sometimes used for abatement roles but can be filed under a different SOC code, placing the offer outside the Hazardous Materials Removal Workers wage floor entirely. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 47-4041 before accepting.
Find employers who have sponsored abatement roles before
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a verified history of sponsoring Hazardous Materials Removal Workers, so you can filter to companies that have already navigated the LCA and certification requirements for this occupation rather than educating a first-time sponsor.
Jobs for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-4041.00 alongside Hazardous Materials Removal Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Abatement Worker Prevailing Wage
Abatement Worker Prevailing Wage
Abatement Worker positions fall under SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Asbestos Abatement Worker Prevailing Wage
Asbestos Abatement Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Asbestos Abatement Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker Prevailing Wage
Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker Prevailing Wage
Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Asbestos Remover Prevailing Wage
Asbestos Remover Prevailing Wage
Asbestos Remover positions fall under SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Asbestos Worker Prevailing Wage
Asbestos Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Asbestos Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator) Prevailing Wage
Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator) Prevailing Wage
Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician) Prevailing Wage
Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician) Prevailing Wage
Hazmat Technician (Hazardous Materials Technician) positions fall under SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Waste Handling Technician Prevailing Wage
Waste Handling Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Waste Handling Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4041.00 (Hazardous Materials Removal Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers?
DOL derives prevailing wages for SOC 47-4041 from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These surveys collect wage data from employers across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. OFLC then publishes four wage levels corresponding to entry through fully competent experience, which employers must meet when filing a Labor Condition Application for a sponsored position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence: Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with standard field performance, Level 3 is experienced with some supervisory or specialist responsibility, and Level 4 is fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. Review your job duties and required certifications against these definitions, then check that the level on the LCA matches what the role actually requires.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC uses regional OES survey data, so wages reflect local labor market conditions in each metropolitan area. The LCA rules require employers to use the prevailing wage for the worksite location, not the employer's headquarters. Markets with strong union presence or concentrated federal remediation contracts, such as certain Pacific Northwest metros, push wages significantly higher than markets with less demand for certified abatement workers.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored hazardous materials position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite area and experience level. USCIS can also deny or revoke H-1B or green card petitions if wage compliance is not demonstrated. The worker must be paid at least the prevailing wage for the entire duration of the sponsored status, and shortfalls can create back-pay liability for the employer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Hazardous Materials Removal Workers location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, enter SOC code 47-4041, and select the metropolitan area matching your worksite. The tool returns all four wage levels for that location. Cross-check the level against your actual duties and certifications. For finding employers with a documented history of sponsoring abatement roles, Migrate Mate filters by occupation and shows historical sponsorship counts so you can target companies already familiar with the process.
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