Asbestos and lead abatement workers: licensing, jobs and pay in the United States
50,570 people work as asbestos and lead abatement workers in the United States, and the median pay is $48,490 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 5,826 remediation service businesses with employees, with 91,239 employees and a payroll of $7,057,102,000 a year (2023 County Business Patterns).
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 50,570
- Median pay, a year
- $48,490
- Businesses with employees
- 5,826
Asbestos and lead abatement workers by state
| State | Jobs | Median pay, a year | Businesses with employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7,950 | $54,740 | 511 | 0.3 |
| New York | 3,660 | $62,610 | 376 | 0.4 |
| Texas | 3,260 | $45,220 | 420 | 0.3 |
| Washington | 2,850 | $59,840 | 182 | 0.6 |
| Massachusetts | 2,550 | $49,130 | 176 | 0.6 |
| Florida | 2,300 | $38,320 | 446 | 0.4 |
| New Jersey | 2,090 | $56,040 | 238 | 0.6 |
| Colorado | 1,950 | $58,790 | 218 | 0.8 |
| Illinois | 1,810 | $55,640 | 158 | 0.3 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,600 | $48,820 | 251 | 0.4 |
| Virginia | 1,290 | $46,050 | 161 | 0.4 |
| Oregon | 1,230 | $48,700 | 79 | 0.4 |
| North Carolina | 1,210 | $41,550 | 174 | 0.4 |
| Ohio | 1,160 | $49,560 | 170 | 0.3 |
| Louisiana | 1,020 | $37,280 | 136 | 0.6 |
| Michigan | 960 | $47,470 | 138 | 0.3 |
| New Mexico | 940 | $52,180 | 55 | 0.6 |
| South Carolina | 870 | $47,150 | 87 | 0.4 |
| Maryland | 830 | $47,050 | 96 | 0.4 |
| Indiana | 800 | $49,010 | 101 | 0.3 |
| Connecticut | 730 | $44,840 | 98 | 0.6 |
| Nevada | 700 | $47,490 | 61 | 0.5 |
| Arkansas | 610 | $38,390 | 42 | 0.3 |
| Georgia | 610 | $44,320 | 161 | 0.4 |
| Arizona | 560 | $47,360 | 93 | 0.3 |
| Idaho | 520 | $61,230 | 45 | 0.6 |
| Alabama | 490 | $38,810 | 68 | 0.3 |
| Tennessee | 480 | $65,080 | 118 | 0.4 |
| Hawaii | 440 | $56,100 | 30 | 0.5 |
| Oklahoma | 430 | $39,980 | 49 | 0.3 |
| Minnesota | 420 | $63,560 | 93 | 0.4 |
| Mississippi | 390 | $38,740 | 32 | 0.2 |
| Iowa | 370 | $50,140 | 44 | 0.3 |
| Wisconsin | 370 | $45,010 | 81 | 0.3 |
| Kansas | 350 | $40,700 | 37 | 0.3 |
| Kentucky | 320 | $47,060 | 56 | 0.3 |
| Alaska | 280 | $53,860 | 70 | 2.1 |
| Nebraska | 240 | $48,180 | 25 | 0.3 |
| Maine | 230 | $46,350 | 35 | 0.5 |
| Utah | 220 | $45,740 | 57 | 0.5 |
| Missouri | 210 | $46,850 | 115 | 0.4 |
| West Virginia | 180 | $43,910 | 26 | 0.3 |
| Montana | 160 | $52,280 | 35 | 0.7 |
| Vermont | 90 | $48,980 | 26 | 0.8 |
| South Dakota | 60 | $48,860 | 15 | 0.4 |
| District of Columbia | 40 | $58,490 | 3 | 0.1 |
| Delaware | — | $39,140 | 25 | 0.5 |
| New Hampshire | — | $60,540 | 37 | 0.6 |
| North Dakota | — | $54,350 | 23 | 0.6 |
| Rhode Island | — | $50,380 | 25 | 0.5 |
| Wyoming | — | — | 28 | 1.0 |
The highest median pay is in Tennessee ($65,080), Minnesota ($63,560), New York ($62,610).
The lowest is in Louisiana ($37,280), Florida ($38,320), Arkansas ($38,390).
What asbestos and lead abatement workers earn
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $48,490 |
| Median pay, an hour | $23.31 |
| 10th percentile | $37,330 |
| 25th percentile | $42,710 |
| 75th percentile | $62,150 |
| 90th percentile | $82,480 |
| Average pay, a year | $55,740 |
Federal rules and model codes for asbestos and lead abatement workers
Before demolishing or renovating a commercial or apartment building (homes of four or fewer units are generally outside the rule), the owner or operator must have it inspected for asbestos, notify the state or EPA, and remove regulated asbestos with set work practices (40 CFR part 61, subpart M).
Asbestos inspectors, abatement workers, supervisors and designers working in schools and in public and commercial buildings must be trained and accredited under EPA’s model accreditation plan, which states adopt for their own programs (40 CFR part 763, subpart E).
Lead abatement, lead inspections and risk assessments in pre-1978 housing must be done by individuals and firms certified by EPA or by a state EPA has authorized (40 CFR part 745, subpart L).
Work for pay that disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint inside, or 20 square feet outside, in a home or child-occupied facility built before 1978 must be done by an EPA- or state-certified firm, directed by a certified renovator and done with lead-safe work practices; replacing windows always counts (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).
A model code becomes law only where a state or city adopts it; the building or licensing department says which edition applies.
- EPA asbestos NESHAP for demolition and renovation (40 CFR part 61, subpart M)
- EPA asbestos accreditation (40 CFR part 763, subpart E)
- EPA lead-based paint activities: abatement, inspection and risk assessment (40 CFR part 745, subpart L)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
Licenses for asbestos and lead abatement workers
Licensing for this trade is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; each state’s page links the official license lookup for it.
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Questions about Asbestos and lead abatement workers
How much do asbestos and lead abatement workers make?
The median pay for asbestos and lead abatement workers in the United States is $48,490 a year, and half earn between $42,710 and $62,150 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many asbestos and lead abatement workers are there in the United States?
50,570 people work as asbestos and lead abatement workers, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
Where do asbestos and lead abatement workers earn the most?
The highest median pay is in Tennessee ($65,080), Minnesota ($63,560), New York ($62,610).
Do asbestos and lead abatement workers need a license?
Licensing is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists the licenses each state requires and the agency that issues each.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop License Finder
- EPA asbestos NESHAP for demolition and renovation (40 CFR part 61, subpart M)
- EPA asbestos accreditation (40 CFR part 763, subpart E)
- EPA lead-based paint activities: abatement, inspection and risk assessment (40 CFR part 745, subpart L)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .