Hazardous Materials Removal Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $61,330 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,568 take-home, or $4,047 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hazardous materials removal worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,180
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,802
- Medicare (1.45%)$889
- Illinois income tax$2,891
- Take-home pay$48,568
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,330 | $21.79 | $36,504 | $3,042 |
| 25th percentile | $48,910 | $23.51 | $39,203 | $3,267 |
| Median (50th) | $61,330 | $29.49 | $48,568 | $4,047 |
| 75th percentile | $75,890 | $36.49 | $58,607 | $4,884 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,160 | $46.71 | $72,517 | $6,043 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,330 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hazardous materials removal worker's $48,568 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,882 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for hazardous materials removal workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $104,530 | $82,367 | $82,302 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $74,060 | $57,529 | $51,108 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $61,330 | $48,568 | $46,882 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $60,260 | $48,656 | $45,996 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $60,290 | $50,623 | $45,552 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $59,160 | $47,216 | $45,044 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $59,580 | $47,654 | $41,218 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,530 | $41,726 | $40,387 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hazardous materials removal worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median hazardous materials removal worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $61,330 a year, or about $29.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,910 and $75,890.
What is a hazardous materials removal worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $61,330 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $48,568 a year ($4,047 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,891 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a hazardous materials removal worker?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $49,450. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,882 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a hazardous materials removal worker afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median hazardous materials removal worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer — $146,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $111,260
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical — $103,690
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $103,380
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $103,100
- Electrician — $102,350
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $102,350
- Sheet Metal Worker — $95,310
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $89,980
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining — $87,060
- Construction and Building Inspector — $82,640
- Roofer — $82,090