Crime Scene Cleaner salary by state

The national median for crime scene cleaners was $23.78 an hour, or $49,450 a year, in May 2025. Where the work is changes that a lot: New York pays $17.53 an hour more at the median than Arkansas.

$23.78National median hourly
$49,450National median yearly
51,710Crime Scene Cleaners on payrolls
51States and DC with figures

National pay for crime scene cleaners

BLS has no figure for crime scene cleaners. These are its numbers for hazardous materials removal workers, the closest group, which includes decontamination workers along with asbestos and lead abatement crews. Treat them as a rough guide, not a measure of crime scene work itself.

Pay levelHourlyYearly
10th percentile$18.49$38,460
25th percentile$21.50$44,720
Median$23.78$49,450
75th percentile$29.58$61,530
90th percentile$39.62$82,410
Average (mean)$27.13$56,430

Highest and lowest paying states

Ranked by median hourly wage. These are wages as paid, not adjusted for living costs.

Top 5Median hourlyMedian yearly
1. New York$35.14$73,090
2. Illinois$29.49$61,330
3. Alaska$29.00$60,320
4. District of Columbia$28.96$60,240
5. North Dakota$28.92$60,160
Bottom 5Median hourlyMedian yearly
51. Arkansas$17.61$36,630
50. Louisiana$18.27$38,000
49. Alabama$18.56$38,610
48. Mississippi$18.96$39,440
47. Florida$20.36$42,350

Crime Scene Cleaner pay in every state

Pick a state for its full page: the pay range, how it compares with its neighbors, how many crime scene cleaners work there and what a business should charge.

StateMedian hourlyMedian yearlyBottom to top tenthEmployed
Alabama$18.56$38,610$16.56 to $28.44350
Alaska$29.00$60,320$22.18 to $58.55140
Arizona$24.29$50,530$16.54 to $29.16800
Arkansas$17.61$36,630$16.73 to $52.22440
California$26.98$56,120$20.03 to $41.097,340
Colorado$28.81$59,920$21.54 to $34.551,400
Connecticut$22.64$47,090$18.78 to $30.84750
Delaware$21.28$44,250$15.39 to $30.35Not published
District of Columbia$28.96$60,240$25.63 to $40.9450
Florida$20.36$42,350$16.81 to $28.511,780
Georgia$23.54$48,960$17.14 to $29.41460
Hawaii$28.10$58,440$21.36 to $37.15340
Idaho$23.90$49,710$20.63 to $49.93600
Illinois$29.49$61,330$21.15 to $47.581,980
Indiana$22.44$46,680$18.41 to $30.22990
Iowa$23.98$49,870$18.51 to $29.40270
Kansas$21.89$45,530$17.36 to $27.08480
Kentucky$22.91$47,640$19.31 to $30.36460
Louisiana$18.27$38,000$16.56 to $24.09880
Maine$22.73$47,280$19.19 to $41.03190
Maryland$23.39$48,640$21.92 to $36.14660
Massachusetts$23.86$49,620$22.22 to $31.672,770
Michigan$22.30$46,380$17.60 to $32.881,610
Minnesota$28.41$59,100$21.28 to $44.30730
Mississippi$18.96$39,440$16.16 to $23.09250
Missouri$28.42$59,120$17.93 to $32.85370
Montana$26.22$54,540$22.20 to $30.25250
Nebraska$23.34$48,540$18.16 to $28.42210
Nevada$22.85$47,520$18.21 to $30.05400
New Hampshire$26.59$55,310$23.00 to $46.73140
New Jersey$26.87$55,900$21.03 to $51.722,250
New Mexico$25.69$53,440$17.79 to $37.50680
New York$35.14$73,090$22.89 to $47.754,090
North Carolina$20.76$43,180$17.95 to $28.231,250
North Dakota$28.92$60,160$10.06 to $33.72170
Ohio$22.41$46,620$18.80 to $32.03830
Oklahoma$21.30$44,300$18.07 to $24.34650
Oregon$23.90$49,720$20.03 to $30.991,130
Pennsylvania$23.01$47,860$18.06 to $35.001,590
Rhode Island$22.44$46,670$19.42 to $38.32330
South Carolina$23.64$49,170$18.19 to $49.41870
South Dakota$24.72$51,420$22.79 to $27.90190
Tennessee$28.89$60,090$18.97 to $46.20570
Texas$21.34$44,390$18.23 to $29.074,450
Utah$23.67$49,240$17.73 to $37.08530
Vermont$22.49$46,780$21.57 to $25.1470
Virginia$21.79$45,320$17.86 to $29.06930
Washington$28.92$60,160$21.86 to $50.263,250
West Virginia$22.30$46,390$18.04 to $36.85130
Wisconsin$22.96$47,750$18.70 to $37.27590
Wyoming$23.35$48,570$22.17 to $28.0030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-4041, hazardous materials removal workers, all industries. Read from the BLS state and national data files. Counts leave out the self-employed.

From a wage to a price

If you run the business, the wage is only the start. At the national median of $23.78, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) give a rate of $112.35 per billable hour. Try yours in the labor rate calculator.

Other trades

National median $30.67 an hourPlumber salary by statePlumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, from apprentices to master plumbers.National median $30.38 an hourElectrician salary by stateInside wiring, panels and service work, residential through industrial.National median $29.33 an hourHVAC Technician salary by stateHeating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers.National median $26.65 an hourRoofer salary by stateShingle, metal and flat roof installers and repair crews.National median $23.75 an hourPainter salary by stateHouse, commercial and maintenance painters.National median $29.12 an hourCarpenter salary by stateFraming, finish and remodel carpenters.National median $18.82 an hourLandscaper salary by stateLandscaping and groundskeeping workers, lawn crews included.National median $17.07 an hourHouse Cleaner salary by stateMaids and housekeeping cleaners, in homes, hotels and hospitals.National median $17.71 an hourJanitor salary by stateJanitors and commercial cleaners, office crews and custodians.National median $21.75 an hourPest Control Technician salary by stateTechnicians who inspect, treat and trap in homes and businesses.National median $22.66 an hourConstruction Laborer salary by stateCrew labor on job sites: demo, digging, hauling and cleanup.National median $29.71 an hourSheet Metal Worker salary by stateDuctwork, flashing and metal fabrication, in the shop and on site.National median $25.55 an hourSolar Installer salary by stateCrews who mount, wire and set up solar panels.National median $38.42 an hourConstruction Supervisor salary by stateForemen and crew leads who run the work on site.National median $24.68 an hourLocksmith salary by stateLockouts, rekeys, lock changes and safe work.National median $24.50 an hourTree Trimmer salary by stateClimbers and pruners, utility arborists included.National median $55.28 an hourGeneral Contractor salary by stateConstruction managers, the BLS group for general contractors.National median $17.23 an hourAuto Detailer salary by stateCleaners of vehicles and equipment, the BLS group for detailers.National median $23.84 an hourHandyman salary by stateGeneral maintenance and repair workers, the closest BLS group.National median $24.51 an hourAppliance Technician salary by stateHome appliance repairers, from washers to ovens.National median $17.71 an hourWindow Cleaner salary by stateFiled by BLS under janitors and cleaners.

We know what works. Leave it to Koira.

☼⚙
Standard⚡ Turbo
● Koira did it● You by hand
Today $9,300$8,100 / $1,200
This week $25,050$18,570 / $6,480
This month $69,300$46,150 / $23,150
Money, just now
Reminded Sean Love, $1,850. Polite reminder with the pay link.
Bids, 9:44 am
Nudged Dana on the kitchen bid. Day 3 follow up. She opened it at 9:12.
Convos, 9:41 am
Texted back a missed call. Walk through booked Thu 10:00.
Crime Scene Cleaner Salary by State (2026): Hourly and Yearly Pay