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Hazardous waste technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a hazardous waste technician. Hazardous waste technicians usually study environmental science, business, or general studies. 37% of hazardous waste technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 903 real hazardous waste technician resumes to see exactly what hazardous waste technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for hazardous waste technicians are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online hazardous waste technician courses to help get the education required to be a hazardous waste technician.
There are certain hazardous waste technician certifications that you should consider. These hazardous waste technician certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).
What education do you need to become a hazardous waste technician?
What degree do you need to be a hazardous waste technician?
- Bachelor's, 37%
- High School Diploma, 28%
- Associate, 20%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a hazardous waste technician?
- Business, 13%
- General Studies, 12%
- Criminal Justice, 9%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for hazardous waste technicians
| Hazardous waste technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 11.32% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 9.43% |
| University of Connecticut | 5.66% |
| University of Florida | 5.66% |
| Clover Park Technical College | 5.66% |
Best majors for hazardous waste technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Science | 15.8% |
| 2 | Business | 12.6% |
| 3 | General Studies | 12.2% |
| 4 | Criminal Justice | 8.6% |
| 5 | Biology | 6.8% |
Best colleges for hazardous waste technicians
The best colleges for hazardous waste technicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A hazardous waste technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for hazardous waste technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become hazardous waste technicians.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME • Private
In-state tuition
$13,478
Enrollment
979
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
7. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
8. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
10. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
20 best online courses for hazardous waste technicians
Advertising disclosure
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3. Solid Waste Mangement
A primer on the best practices for managing solid waste...
4. Risk Management: Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment
Risk Management: Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA), Hazard Control & Mitigation, Risk Evaluation Techniques...
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Learn how to remove waste from your processes with real implementers...
6. Lean Management: Reduce waste and boost efficiency
Learn how to use the principles of lean management to optimize production, eliminate waste, and maximize customer value...
7. OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy and Lock Out / Tag Out
OSHA required training under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926...
8. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
9. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
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Food Safety Preventive Approach (HACCP System)...
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Your guide to preventing hearing loss using OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure Standards...
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17. NEBOSH health and safety Management System
It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...
18. Become a Pharmacy Technician
A Video Study Guide for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam...
19. Fun food safety and sanitation course
The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...
20. Basic Fire Safety Awareness
Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...
Top 10 most affordable universities for hazardous waste technicians
The most affordable schools for hazardous waste technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for hazardous waste technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for hazardous waste technicians.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
8. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Cost of attendance
22,990
10. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for hazardous waste technicians
The hardest universities for hazardous waste technicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for hazardous waste technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for hazardous waste technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. Brandeis University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
31%
SAT average
1,398
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for hazardous waste technicians
The easiest schools for hazardous waste technicians to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a hazardous waste technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for hazardous waste technicians.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
7. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
8. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
9. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
10. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
Average hazardous waste technician salary by education level
| Hazardous waste technician education level | Hazardous waste technician salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,411 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $40,298 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,349 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $44,554 |
Hazardous waste technician education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025