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Job outlook for hazardous waste technicians in the United States
Are hazardous waste technician jobs in demand?
Hazardous waste technician job and salary trends over time
Hazardous waste technician jobs over time
Hazardous waste technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 527 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 523 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 537 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 502 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 506 | 0.00% |
Average hazardous waste technician salary over time
Hazardous waste technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,776 | $20.08 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | $41,595 | $20.00 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $40,310 | $19.38 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $39,716 | $19.09 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $38,581 | $18.55 | +2.7% |
Hazardous waste technician jobs by state
Most common states for hazardous waste technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 157 | 12% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 86 | 12% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 54 | 9% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 567 | 8% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 78 | 8% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 402 | 7% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 366 | 7% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 239 | 7% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 229 | 7% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 89 | 7% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 750 | 6% |
| 12 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 630 | 6% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 595 | 6% |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 386 | 6% |
| 15 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 378 | 6% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 346 | 6% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 109 | 6% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 47 | 6% |
| 19 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 440 | 5% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 96 | 5% |
Most common cities for hazardous waste technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood | 3 | 9% | $37,490 |
| 2 | Benicia | 1 | 4% | $65,740 |
| 3 | Camarillo | 1 | 1% | $59,267 |
| 4 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $37,477 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $42,968 |
| 6 | Chandler | 1 | 0% | $41,503 |
| 7 | Wichita | 1 | 0% | $36,373 |
Hazardous Waste Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of hazardous waste technician experts
Kennesaw State University
The Wildlife Society
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Environmental ScienceKennesaw State University
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
What Hazardous Waste Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.: I think the best advice I can offer recent graduates is to be as flexible as possible. Being willing to relocate, for example, vastly expands the number of potential jobs they can apply to. Applying for positions that might not be exactly where they want to go, but might give them the experience or skills they need to get to their desired career after a year or two also will help open more doors. So if you can't find your ideal job right away, consider that internship or volunteer opportunity that will make you more marketable in the future.
What will help Hazardous Waste Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.: In environmental science, GIS is becoming a requirement for a lot more jobs. It has always been a useful skillset, but it has been integrated into a lot more jobs in the environmental field than 5 or 10 years ago. We require all of our environmental science majors to take at least one GIS class for this reason, but we have several others available as electives and our students can even pursue a GIS certificate through our Geography department using elective credits for our degree program. Coming from an environmental consulting background, I also tell students to consider getting their 40-hour HAZWOPER certification if they are interested in that field. It's required for any job where you deal with hazardous materials or work on contaminated sites, so having one of those already under your belt when you apply for a job makes you much more appealing to employers since they don't have to pay for you to get it if they hire you.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Hazardous Waste Technicians?
Jamila Blake: Impacts of the coronavirus will definitely be seen in the lack of opportunities for in-person interactions, training, and work opportunities, but it is certainly not all bad. While students may have been hoping to gain some field experience, remote or modified positions have been developed, and a number of online learning opportunities have been enhanced to continue students' skill-building. Many organizations have been able to adapt to virtual workplaces, events, and professional development offerings - such as conferences, workshops, mentorship connections, and networking events. This year of adjusting and learning will likely enable the wildlife field to be more flexible with remote working options.