Jobs Similar to Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to hazardous materials removal workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Aircraft Service Attendants, Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters and Floor Sanders and Finishers.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers: $49,450 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Aircraft Service Attendants
80% similar · $40,450 (−18%) · High school
- 2Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
79% similar · $61,390 (+24%) · High school
- 3Floor Sanders and Finishers
79% similar · $50,440 (+2%) · High school
- 4Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
78% similar · $46,880 (−5%) · High school
- 5Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $43,960 (−11%) · High school
- 6Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
78% similar · $68,840 (+39%) · High school
- 7Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
78% similar · $49,120 (−1%) · High school
- 8Tree Trimmers and Pruners
78% similar · $50,960 (+3%) · High school
- 9Recycling and Reclamation Workers
78% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
- 10Tapers
77% similar · $68,270 (+38%) · High school
- 11Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
77% similar · $60,600 (+23%) · High school
- 12Carpet Installers
77% similar · $50,340 (+2%) · High school
- 13Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
77% similar · $43,220 (−13%) · High school
- 14Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
77% similar · $40,240 (−19%) · High school
- 15Rock Splitters, Quarry
76% similar · $48,740 (−1%) · High school
- 16Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
76% similar · $35,830 (−28%) · High school
- 17Insulation Workers, Mechanical
76% similar · $58,340 (+18%) · High school
- 18Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
76% similar · $49,880 (+1%) · High school · Same group
- 19Hoist and Winch Operators
76% similar · $56,450 (+14%) · High school
- 20Locomotive Engineers
76% similar · $81,410 (+65%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than hazardous materials removal workers.
- Locomotive Engineers76% similar · $81,410 (+65%)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers78% similar · $68,840 (+39%)
- Tapers77% similar · $68,270 (+38%)
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters79% similar · $61,390 (+24%)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers77% similar · $60,600 (+23%)
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical76% similar · $58,340 (+18%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for hazardous materials removal workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where hazardous materials removal workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers (88)
- Pest Control Workers (83)
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (83)
- Aircraft Service Attendants (80)
- Floor Sanders and Finishers (79)
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters (78)
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (78)
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (78)
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (78)
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (78)
Questions about jobs like hazardous materials removal workers
What jobs are most similar to hazardous materials removal workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Aircraft Service Attendants (80% similar), Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters (79% similar), Floor Sanders and Finishers (79% similar), Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (78% similar) and Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (78% similar).
Which jobs like hazardous materials removal workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +65%; usually a high school diploma), Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers ($68,840, +39%; usually a high school diploma) and Tapers ($68,270, +38%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with hazardous materials removal workers ($49,450). Without more preparation than hazardous materials removal workers usually need: Locomotive Engineers, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Tapers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.