Decontamination worker
Also known as: radio-active decontamination worker, environmental decontamination technician, hazardous material decontamination worker, environmental decontamination worker, environmental remediation worker, soil decontamination worker
About this occupation
Decontamination workers remove and dispose of hazardous materials, such as radioactive materials or contaminated soil. They handle hazardous materials in compliance with safety regulations, investigate causes of contamination, and remove the contamination from the structure or site.
Essential skills and knowledge
- contamination exposure regulations
- remove contaminated materials
- remove contaminants
- hazardous waste treatment
- avoid contamination
- decontamination techniques
- disinfect surfaces
- investigate contamination
- cleaning industry health and safety measures
- store contaminated materials
- radioactive contamination
- assess contamination
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Pest Control Workers (O*NET 37-2021.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Record work activities performed.
- Clean work site after completion of job.
- Measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate cost for service.
- Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
- Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.
- Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Writing, Speaking, Monitoring, Time Management
US median pay: US$45,250 a year (2025), 102,620 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryVery important (3.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.5)
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyImportant (3.2)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
- Agricultural Technicians
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
- Agricultural Inspectors
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.