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Hazardous Materials Removal Workers vs Helpers--Electricians: what changes?

Consider Hazardous Materials Removal Workers if you want to identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Consider Helpers--Electricians if you would rather help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers and Helpers--Electricians. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

National median pay (2025)
$49,450
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
4,300
Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Hazardous Materials Removal Workers brief

Helpers--Electricians

National median pay (2025)
$42,670
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Strip insulation from wire ends, using wire stripping pliers, and attach wires to terminals for subsequent soldering.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
6,100
Know before you choose

BLS projects essentially flat employment (0.6%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.

See the full Helpers--Electricians brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers has the edge on median pay

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers is at $49,450, compared with $42,670 for Helpers--Electricians.

2

Typical preparation differs.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Helpers--Electricians: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

3

Helpers--Electricians has the edge on annual openings

Helpers--Electricians is at 6,100 annual openings, compared with 4,300 annual openings for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers.

4

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers has the edge on projected growth

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers is at 1.5% projected growth, compared with 0.6% projected growth for Helpers--Electricians.

40.5/ 100

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

vs
40.9/ 100

Helpers--Electricians

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers vs Helpers--Electricians

DimensionHazardous Materials Removal WorkersHelpers--Electricians
Median pay (2025)$49,450$42,670
Pay percentile30.9 percentile14.7 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)1.5%0.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)4,3006,100
2025 employment52,70065,000
How you qualifyHigh school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingHigh school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 2
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingMore than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.