How to hire a hazardous material specialist

How to hire a hazardous material specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hazardous material specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a hazardous material specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hazardous material specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your hazardous material specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a hazardous material specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A hazardous material specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, hazardous material specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of hazardous material specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Hazardous Material Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Hazardous Material Specialist	Hazardous materials (hazmat) removal workers identify and dispose of asbestos, lead, radioactive waste, and other hazardous materials. They also neutralize and clean up materials that are flammable, corrosive, or toxic.	$21-39
   Lead Abatement Worker	A lead abatement worker specializes in removing lead-based paint and other materials on surfaces such as ceilings and walls. Their responsibilities include conducting initial assessments to create action plans, preparing protective gear and cleaning supplies, operating high-pressure sprayers and sandblasters, and safely discarding materials... Show more	$9-23

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Environmental Health
   • OSHA
   • DOT
   • Emergency Response
   • Safety Procedures
   • Public Health
   • Hazmat
   • Waste Management
   • CFR
   • RCRA
   • Regulatory Agencies
   • EPA
   • Responder
   • Regulatory Compliance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage EPA compliance and documentation and insure safe handling of all hazardous waste and proper disposal of all volatile organic compounds.
   • Develop and manage explosive inspection and quality assurance processes and provide SME guidance for management of hazardous and non-hazardous material storage.
   • Classify hazardous materials under 49 CFR, IATA, IMDG, and TDG.
   • Review chemical containing products for OSHA regulatory compliance before sale at the retailer
   • Maintain MSDS log book for all materials on hand.
   • Perform and supervise the cleanup effort of 13 HAZMAT spills.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your hazardous material specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A hazardous material specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, hazardous material specialists' average salary in florida is 40% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level hazardous material specialists 46% less than senior-level hazardous material specialists.
   • Certifications. A hazardous material specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a hazardous material specialist's salary.

   Average hazardous material specialist salary

   $61,373yearly

   $29.51 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hazardous material specialist salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a hazardous material specialist job description

   A job description for a hazardous material specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a hazardous material specialist job description:

   Hazardous material specialist job description example

   Under direction leads staff and performs complex inspections and investigations in the enforcement of hazardous materials/waste laws and ordinances.
   
   This recruitment is for positions working in the County's Hazardous Materials Program, which is authorized by the California Environmental Protection Agency to operate as a Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA), and the County's Site Mitigation Program, which is certified under State law to implement a Local Oversight Program (LOP) and operate as a Local Oversight Agency. Both programs are located within the Department of Environmental Health's Hazardous Materials Compliance Division. Candidates selected for positions in either program must have the ability to climb ladders, scaffolding, or trenches, or crawl, if necessary, while performing investigations or field inspections. Candidates selected for positions in the Hazardous Materials Program must possess or obtain an International Code Council certification as a California Underground Storage Tank Inspector within 180 days of hire or placement into the position.
   COVID -19 Risk Tier - Higher Risk
   
   Typical Tasks
   
   * Performs lead duties, such as assigning, distributing, and adjusting workloads, reviewing work of staff and interpreting departmental policies, procedures and practices;
   
   * Helps resolve issues among staff;
   
   * Takes disciplinary actions up to and including written counseling;
   
   * Assists management in the development of budgets for programs;
   
   * Oversees household and small business hazardous waste disposal programs and directs technicians and contract personnel in their duties;
   
   * Inspects establishments and properties for compliance with hazardous materials/waste laws and regulations and applicable Federal, State and Local laws and regulations;
   
   * Assists in the development of programs and implements those programs;
   
   * Enforces compliance of hazardous materials/waste laws, regulations, ordinances and codes and assists/advises regulated facilities to bring them in compliance with hazardous materials/waste laws, regulations, ordinances and codes;
   
   * Issues citations to facilities that are not in compliance;
   
   * Performs construction and alteration plan check reviews for hazardous materials storage facilities and tank systems. Makes necessary contacts with property owners, contractors and consultants and coordinates with County/city departments to determine compliance with State laws and regulation and local codes and ordinances;
   
   * Performs architectural and site approval (ASA) reviews and/or Hazardous Materials Clearance reviews. Coordinates information with County's land use committee and various county departments such as planning, building and zoning;
   
   * Audits the implementation by local jurisdictions of Unified Program elements and recommends modifications as required by law;
   
   * Conducts field inspections and reviews documents for compliance with California's Underground Storage Tank (UST) law and regulations;
   
   * Reviews facility plans and conducts inspections for compliance with applicable laws and ordinances for hazardous materials/waste onsite
   * Conducts the more complex investigations of illegal dumping and unauthorized releases of hazardous materials including major or repeated violations and clandestine drug laboratories. Duties may include providing oversight and direction to contractors for cleanup of sites;
   
   * Gathers information on prior inspections and investigations using departmental database and files and reviews this information to understand certifications of compliance or resolution of outstanding issues;
   
   * Collects samples and maintains chain of custody of suspected hazardous wastes to determine if there have been unauthorized releases, spills or leaks;
   
   * Interviews witnesses, assists in the collection of evidence and prepares reports of findings concerning spills and prepares material for use in legal actions, coordinates with the District Attorney's Office on actions;
   
   * Appears in court as an expert witness to provide testimony in cases of criminal complaints and civil suits involving hazardous materials/waste;
   
   * Prepares clear professional reports, memoranda, business correspondence, and other documentation including reports of findings concerning spills and prepares material for use in legal actions;
   
   * Meets, answers inquiries, and prepares informational literature on hazardous materials/waste to provide technical assistance to representatives of industry, government associations and the general public;
   
   * Coordinates and assists in inter-agency investigations and clean-ups and enforcement efforts to achieve uniformity of procedures and consistency in the interpretation of codes;
   
   * Develops and participates in training programs as required by Departmental needs or assignments;
   
   * Offers guidance and assists in the training of subordinate hazardous materials staff;
   
   * Performs related duties as required.
   
   Employment Standards
   
   The knowledge and abilities required to perform this function are acquired through the possession of a Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, or a related Science. The degree must include a minimum of thirty (30) semester units as required by the State of California for the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) which may include courses such as: Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Physical Science, Environmental Science, Geology or Soil Science, Environmental Health, Environmental or Sanitary Engineering, Toxicology, Industrial Hygiene, Hazardous Materials Management, Fire Science or Fire Technology.
   
   AND
   
   One (1) year of work experience as a Hazardous Materials Specialist II in Santa Clara County or four (4) years of increasingly responsible work experience conducting investigations and inspections of hazardous materials/waste, or in the enforcement of Federal, State and Local Government health/environmental regulations, including one (1) year equivalent to a Hazardous Materials Specialist II in Santa Clara County.
   
   Possession of a valid California Driver's license prior to appointment.
   
   Certification:
   
   Some positions may require possession of the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Inspector certification within 180 days of hire or placement into position.
   
   Knowledge of:
   
   * Basic organic and inorganic chemistry, with a strong emphasis on chemical characteristics, hazardous identification, compatibility issues and their effects on human health and the environment;
   
   * Statistics;
   
   * Principles and practices of hazardous materials management;
   
   * Federal, State and Local laws and regulations applicable to hazardous materials management and environmental health;
   
   * Methods, techniques and practices used in the determination, control and elimination of health hazards;
   
   * Practices in the transportation, processing, treatment, recycling and disposal of hazardous waste;
   
   * Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and/or databases.
   
   Ability to:
   
   * Motivate, train, evaluate, counsel and provide guidance to staff;
   
   * Make assignments as workload needs dictate;
   
   * Interpret and apply laws, regulations, ordinances, codes and data;
   
   * Advise and instruct others on compliance requirements of hazardous materials programs;
   
   * Prioritize and schedule workload;
   
   * Collect samples of hazardous substances, soil and groundwater;
   
   * Prepare comprehensive and technically accurate reports;
   
   * Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing;
   
   * Maintain records accurately;
   
   * Identify hazards and recommend corrective action;
   
   * Enforce laws, regulations, codes and ordinances pertaining to hazardous materials/waste;
   
   * Conduct statistical analysis;
   
   * Meet respiratory protection program requirements.
   
   Some positions may require an employee to climb ladders, scaffolding, or trenches, or to crawl while performing investigations and field inspections.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right hazardous material specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with hazardous material specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit hazardous material specialists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your hazardous material specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit hazardous material specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting hazardous material specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new hazardous material specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect hazardous material specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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