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The average salary for a Hazardous Waste Technician is approximately $41,776 annually, or about $20 per hour. This figure varies based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry. For instance, technicians working in states such as California and Texas often earn higher wages due to the demand for skilled professionals in these areas.
Beyond state averages, experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with extensive experience and certifications can significantly increase their earnings. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths in this vital field.
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The average hazardous waste technician salary in California, Oregon, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average hazardous waste technician salary states are Oklahoma, Indiana, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,513 | $24.77 |
| 2 | Nevada | $55,164 | $26.52 |
| 3 | Delaware | $46,059 | $22.14 |
| 4 | California | $59,731 | $28.72 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $43,894 | $21.10 |
| 6 | Oregon | $56,089 | $26.97 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $45,061 | $21.66 |
| 8 | Virginia | $47,867 | $23.01 |
| 9 | Washington | $53,099 | $25.53 |
| 10 | Texas | $47,015 | $22.60 |
| 11 | New York | $47,767 | $22.96 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $40,159 | $19.31 |
| 13 | Idaho | $45,699 | $21.97 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $38,034 | $18.29 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $45,270 | $21.76 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $44,519 | $21.40 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $39,656 | $19.07 |
| 18 | Utah | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| 19 | Montana | $41,964 | $20.18 |
| 20 | Iowa | $38,685 | $18.60 |
| 21 | Vermont | $41,473 | $19.94 |
| 22 | Arizona | $41,672 | $20.03 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $39,572 | $19.02 |
| 24 | Michigan | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 25 | Missouri | $39,191 | $18.84 |
| 26 | Illinois | $38,984 | $18.74 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $38,865 | $18.69 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $43,582 | $20.95 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $42,403 | $20.39 |
| 30 | Alabama | $37,798 | $18.17 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $40,024 | $19.24 |
| 32 | Maryland | $43,053 | $20.70 |
| 33 | Maine | $35,034 | $16.84 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $35,946 | $17.28 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $40,101 | $19.28 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $40,054 | $19.26 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $39,632 | $19.05 |
| 38 | Colorado | $37,512 | $18.03 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $45,795 | $22.02 |
| 40 | Ohio | $37,792 | $18.17 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $36,183 | $17.40 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $37,965 | $18.25 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $40,367 | $19.41 |
| 44 | Kansas | $36,419 | $17.51 |
| 45 | Florida | $34,103 | $16.40 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $36,877 | $17.73 |
| 47 | Indiana | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| 48 | Georgia | $34,027 | $16.36 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $34,597 | $16.63 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $34,661 | $16.66 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $32,077 | $15.42 |
The highest-paying cities for hazardous waste technicians are San Mateo, CA, Sparks, NV, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo, CA | $65,519 | $31.50 |
| 2 | Sparks, NV | $59,260 | $28.49 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $55,889 | $26.87 |
| 4 | Hampton, VA | $48,291 | $23.22 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $47,151 | $22.67 |
| 6 | Cambridge, MA | $44,015 | $21.16 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $42,064 | $20.22 |
| 8 | Idaho Falls, ID | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| 9 | Lancaster, PA | $39,740 | $19.11 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $37,523 | $18.04 |
| 11 | Englewood, CO | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| 12 | Wichita, KS | $36,373 | $17.49 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $34,593 | $16.63 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $33,865 | $16.28 |
A hazardous waste technician's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| Average | $41,776 | $3,481 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of hazardous waste technicians are audit technician, ammunition technician, and senior field technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Services Supervisor | $40,163 | $3,347 | $19.31 | 67,959 |
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Environmental Field Technician | $38,450 | $3,204 | $18.49 | 76,665 |
| Field Technician Engineer | $50,370 | $4,198 | $24.22 | 73,704 |
| Environmental Technician | $39,690 | $3,308 | $19.08 | 43,079 |
| Environmental Service Technician | $30,862 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 83,697 |
Top companies hiring hazardous waste technicians now:
Hazardous waste technician salaries at Tesla and Moffitt Cancer Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average hazardous waste technician salary at companies like Woodard & Curran and Eurofins are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| 2 | Moffitt Cancer Center | $43,849 | $21.08 |
| 3 | Woodard & Curran | $39,418 | $18.95 |
| 4 | Eurofins | $39,333 | $18.91 |
| 5 | Clean Harbors | $39,236 | $18.86 |
| 6 | Amec Foster Wheeler | $38,774 | $18.64 |
| 7 | US Ecology | $37,485 | $18.02 |
| 8 | Harsco | $37,295 | $17.93 |
| 9 | Metro | $37,104 | $17.84 |
| 10 | Woods Services | $36,091 | $17.35 |
| 11 | University of Houston | $34,719 | $16.69 |
| 12 | The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| 13 | Bering Straits | $34,236 | $16.46 |
| 14 | Aerotek | $32,029 | $15.40 |
The average hazardous waste technician salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $45,577 | $21.91 |
| 2 | Automotive | $39,684 | $19.08 |
| 3 | Real Estate | $38,641 | $18.58 |
| 4 | Energy | $37,323 | $17.94 |
| 5 | Utilities | $36,887 | $17.73 |
| 6 | Government | $36,756 | $17.67 |
The average hazardous waste technician salary has risen by $4,871 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average hazardous waste technician earned $36,905 annually, but today, they earn $41,776 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for hazardous waste technicians over the last decade.
Compare hazardous waste technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare hazardous waste technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,800 | $20.08 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | $41,600 | $20.00 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $40,300 | $19.38 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $39,700 | $19.09 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $38,600 | $18.55 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCC Environmental Services | Household Hazardous Waste Technician | Roseville, CA | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Sharps Medical Waste Services | Hazardous Waste Technician | Mays Landing, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| University of South Carolina | Waste Technician | Columbia, SC | 06/27/2025 | $49,396 |
| Winona County | Household Hazardous Waste/Recycling Technician | Winona, MN | 06/26/2025 | $50,985 |
| Wastexperts, Inc. | Waste Tech | SeaTac, WA | 06/25/2025 | $45,914 |
| Clean Harbors | Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Technician (Hazwoper Certification and Previous Chemical HAN | Albuquerque, NM | 06/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| Clean Harbors | Household Hazard Waste Technician I | Laurel, MD | 06/23/2025 | $37,566 |
| Sharps Medical Waste Services | Hazardous Waste Technician | Sunbury, PA | 06/21/2025 | $48,001 |
| State of Colorado | Temporary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Technician I-Northeast Regional Office | Boone, CO | 06/20/2025 | $37,566 |
| State of Colorado | Temporary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Technician I-Northeast Regional Office | Boone, CO | 06/20/2025 | $37,566 |
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