How the national numbers differ
1Highway Maintenance Workers has the edge on annual openings
Highway Maintenance Workers is at 11,800 annual openings, compared with 4,300 annual openings for Hazardous Materials Removal 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 Highway Maintenance 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.
Highway Maintenance Workers has the edge on projected growth
Highway Maintenance Workers is at 3.4% projected growth, compared with 1.5% projected growth for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers.
National pay benchmarks are very similar.
Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.
40.5/ 100Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
vs
56/ 100Highway Maintenance 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 Highway Maintenance Workers
| Dimension | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | Highway Maintenance Workers |
|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $49,450 | $50,260 |
|---|
| Pay percentile | 30.9 percentile | 33 percentile |
|---|
| Projected growth (2025–2035) | 1.5% | 3.4% |
|---|
| Annual openings (2025–2035) | 4,300 | 11,800 |
|---|
| 2025 employment | 52,700 | 161,800 |
|---|
| 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.
