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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hazardous Materials Specialist in California is $63,890 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, a Hazardous Materials Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Hazardous Materials Specialist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $72,437 | $6,036 | $1,393 | $35 |
| Average | $63,890 | $5,324 | $1,229 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,732 | $4,644 | $1,072 | $27 |
Terraphase Engineering Inc - Oakland, CA
NV5 - Torrance, CA
LanceSoft - San Carlos, CA
Tucker Parker Smith Group (TPS Group) - Novato, CA
A Hazardous Materials Specialist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Hazardous Materials Specialist'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Hazardous... Level Hazardous Materials Specialist | $56,218 |
| Hazardous... Level Hazardous Materials Specialist | $64,457 |
| Hazardous... Level Hazardous Materials Specialist | $78,033 |
| Hazardous... Level Hazardous Materials Specialist | $98,022 |
| Hazardous... Level Hazardous Materials Specialist | $126,649 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Hazardous Materials Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Hazardous Materials Specialist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hazardous Materials Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $83,057 | $40.0 | 30% |
| Energy & Utilities | $79,863 | $38.0 | 25% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $73,474 | $35.0 | 15% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $73,474 | $35.0 | 15% |
| Insurance | $70,279 | $34.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Hazardous Materials Specialist'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $72,437 | $6,036 | $1,393 | $35 |
| Average | $63,890 | $5,324 | $1,229 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,732 | $4,644 | $1,072 | $27 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hazardous Materials Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
LanceSoft
San Mateo, CA
LanceSoft | San Mateo, CA
Materials Specialist. Location: Foster City California 94404 Duration: 06+ Months Contract Pay Range: $28.00 $34.00/hr. On W2 Job Description: Manage, proc... more
9 Days Ago
Neptune Medical
Burlingame, CA
Neptune Medical | Burlingame, CA
Materials Specialist. Neptune Medical, an innovative, venture capital-funded medical device startup headquartered in Burlingame, CA, is seeking a Materials... more
9 Days Ago
Howmet Aerospace
Lomita, CA
Howmet Aerospace | Lomita, CA
Materials Specialist I. Howmet Fastening Systems (HFS) is seeking a Materials Specialist I in our Torrance, California location. HFS is a business unit of ... more
5 Days Ago
The Right Hire
Hayward, CA
The Right Hire | Hayward, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Day in the Life — Hayward, CA. Step into our Hayward facility and take ownership of how materials move. You’ll be the ste... more
7 Days Ago
Virgin Galactic
Irvine, CA
Virgin Galactic | Irvine, CA
Specialist Materials Manufacturing Technician. Virgin Galactic is seeking a talented and motivated technical person to join our Test & Evaluation team to h... more
8 Days Ago
Berkely Lab
San Francisco, CA
Berkely Lab | San Francisco, CA
Materials And Logistics Specialist. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Materials and Logistics Specialist to support the Advanced Light Sour... more
9 Days Ago
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