Hazardous Materials Responder Salary in the United States

How much does a Hazardous Materials Responder make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hazardous Materials Responder in the United States is $89,037 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

However, a Hazardous Materials Responder's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,344
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $79,517 to $96,526
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,849
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View as table View as graph 25% $79,517 10% $70,849 90% $103,344 75% $96,526 $89,037 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Hazardous Materials Responder Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $96,526 $8,044 $1,856 $46
Average $89,037 $7,420 $1,712 $43
25th Percentile $79,517 $6,626 $1,529 $38
Check out Hazardous Materials Responder Job Openings in the United States
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Travel OR RN

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Aya Healthcare - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Hazardous Materials Responder Salaries

A Hazardous Materials Responder's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Hazardous Materials Responder Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hazardous Materials Responder's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,558
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,236
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $88,486
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $129,423
  • Expert (over 8 years): $146,802
Levels Salary
Environme... Level Hazardous Materials Responder$60,558
Environme... Level Hazardous Materials Responder$67,236
Hazardous... Level Hazardous Materials Responder$88,486
Environme... Level Hazardous Materials Responder$129,423
Environme... Level Hazardous Materials Responder$146,802
$60,558 0 yr
$67,236 < 2 yrs
$88,486 2-4 yrs
$129,423 5-8 yrs
$146,802 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Hazardous Materials Responder Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Hazardous Materials Responders. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $98,582.
  • California: $98,208.
  • Massachusetts: $96,899.

Top Paying Cities for Hazardous Materials Responders

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $112,302
  • San Francisco: $111,073
  • Oakland: $108,732

What Skills Can Increase a Hazardous Materials Responder's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 6.19% Job Postings): Risk management is the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Risks can come from various sources including uncertainty in financial markets, threats from project failures (at any phase in design, development, production, or sustainment life-cycles), legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters, deliberate attack from an adversary, or events of uncertain or unpredictable root-cause. There are two types of events i.e. negative events can be classified as risks while positive events are classified as opportunities. Several risk management standards have been developed including the Project Management Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, actuarial societies, and ISO standards. Methods, definitions and goals vary widely according to whether the risk management method is in the context of project management, security, engineering, industrial processes, financial portfolios, actuarial assessments, or public health and safety.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.68% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 1.4% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 6.19%
Microsoft Office 2.68%
CPR 1.4%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Hazardous Materials Responder's salary.
  • Technical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Technical Skills
$97,940
10%
Program Management
$96,160
8%
Risk Management
$96,160
8%
Verbal Communication
$94,379
6%
ISO
$94,379
6%
Innovation
$94,379
6%
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Hazardous Materials Responder Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hazardous Materials Responder roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Hazardous Materials Responder positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hazardous Materials Responder as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Hazardous Materials Responder

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$115,748$56.030%
Pharmaceuticals$111,296$54.025%
Financial Services$106,844$51.020%
Software & Networking$102,392$49.015%

How Education impacts a Hazardous Materials Responder's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hazardous Materials Responders enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Hazardous Materials Responder with a Bachelor's Degree is between $91,965 and $98,722).

Hazardous Materials Responder Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Hazardous Materials Responder
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 20.0%
High School 20.0%
Associates 6.7%
Bachelors 33.3%
Masters 40.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Hazardous Materials Responder Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hazardous Materials Responder's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Hazardous Materials Responder

Salaries for a Hazardous Materials Responder can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $83,085 in 2023 to around $82,411 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Hazardous Materials Responder salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Hazardous Materials Responder Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$83,085
2024
$82,859
2025
$82,411
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $83,085
2024 $82,859
2025 $82,411
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Hazardous Materials Responder

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Hazardous Materials Responder

Here are companies hiring for Hazardous Materials Responder and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Hazardous Materials Responder Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hazardous Materials Responder job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

  • USPS

    Columbus, OH

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Hazardous Materials Responder

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Hazardous Materials Responder?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Hazardous Materials Responder roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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