Hazardous Materials Removal Workers vs Helpers--Extraction Workers: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers vs Helpers--Extraction Workers: 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--Extraction Workers if you would rather help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, 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--Extraction Workers. 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

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--Extraction Workers

National median pay (2025): $47,730
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: Observe and monitor equipment operation during the extraction process to detect any problems.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 700

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (7,100 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Helpers--Extraction Workers brief

How the national numbers differ

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers has the edge on annual openings

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers is at 4,300 annual openings, compared with 700 annual openings for Helpers--Extraction Workers.

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--Extraction 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 Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers has the edge on median pay

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers is at $49,450, compared with $47,730 for Helpers--Extraction Workers.

Helpers--Extraction Workers has the edge on projected growth

Helpers--Extraction Workers is at 1.7% projected growth, compared with 1.5% projected growth for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers.

40.5/ 100

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

33.2/ 100

Helpers--Extraction Workers

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--Extraction Workers

Dimension	Hazardous Materials Removal Workers	Helpers--Extraction Workers
Median pay (2025)	$49,450	$47,730
Pay percentile	30.9 percentile	25.7 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	1.5%	1.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	4,300	700
2025 employment	52,700	7,100
How you qualify	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	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
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months 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.

Read Hazardous Materials Removal Workers brief Read Helpers--Extraction Workers brief

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

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Helpers--Extraction Workers

How the national numbers differ

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers has the edge on median pay

Helpers--Extraction Workers has the edge on projected growth

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers vs Helpers--Extraction Workers

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