Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-4041
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 47-4041 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 0.0%
- Low · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 66/100
- High friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $49,450
- No H-1B offered-wage row for this SOC.
- Projected openings
- 6,600
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +1.0%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 0
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 10,142 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
Transition context
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.
Common titles: Abatement Worker, Asbestos Abatement Worker, Asbestos Hazard Abatement Worker, Asbestos Remover, Asbestos Worker, Decontamination and Decommissioning Operator (D and D Operator)
Representative Tasks
- •Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
- •Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
- •Identify asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials to be removed, using monitoring devices.
- •Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
- •Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
- •Prepare hazardous waste for processing or disposal.
- •Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.
- •Record operational or environmental data.
- •Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| Outlook | Bright ↗ | 70% Bright |
| Median Salary | $49,450 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |