Since most jobs that fall under the crime scene cleanup category aren’t regulated by the government, there’s no clear and official answer to this question. However, there are some resources that can help us come up with an estimate on what you could expect to make per year as a crime scene cleaner. Let’s take a look at some of these sources and see if we can get an idea of what the pay might be like for these professionals.

Hourly pay for crime scene cleaners

Crime scene cleaners typically work to clean up any blood and body fluids that may have been left at a crime scene after the police leave. Most cleanup professionals will also do tasks like deodorizing the home, removing dirt or debris from furniture or flooring, and disinfecting any surfaces where contamination was found. The median salary for these professionals is $20 an hour, which works out to around $40,000 a year. However, the hourly rate varies significantly based on the number of years in the industry and company size as well as what tasks are being performed.

The job outlook for crime scene cleaners

Crime scene cleaners use special equipment and detergents to remove bodily fluids, organ tissue, and other substances from a location that has been exposed to death. First responders may leave a room without cleaning it if they do not have the necessary tools, so crime scene cleaners are needed to clean up the scene of the accident or crime. 

The job outlook is difficult to predict because deaths can be unpredictable – with unexpected events in combat zones leading to sudden spikes in demand for cleanup services. Current statistics show that crime scene cleaner jobs are largely based in Southern California where there’s an estimated average of 12 accidental deaths per day, but significant numbers of jobs are also available on military bases and fire stations around the United States due to incidents of blood and smoke exposure.

Education needed to be a crime scene cleaner

Crime scene cleaners are people who specialize in sanitizing homes or other properties that have been contaminated by blood, drugs, or other substances. It takes a particular personality to make this profession a success, and it also takes a good deal of education and training. To become a crime scene cleaner, you need at least three years of schooling in criminal justice and law enforcement in order to take care of the safety of others at these locations. Training includes hazmat awareness, personal protective equipment use, and response to hazardous materials incidents. This career path often requires special licensing in some states. For this job, you must be able to work long hours as you will typically not be given any advance notice before your shift starts.

Related job titles

A crime scene cleaner will typically be one of two types of people. If they are an employee or contracted by the police, then they are likely not entitled to any compensation in the event that they encounter a problem as a result of their work. They may be working with hazardous materials, going into houses that are not theirs, and exposed to things like HIV, Hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, gangrene, anthrax and other diseases. If they are a private contractor the compensation is related to several factors such as the demand for cleanup and the type of incident. For example, if there has been a murder at home cleaners might charge anywhere from $500-2000 depending on the location and size of the house. For drug overdoses, they might charge around $150-$200 but this also depends on how much time it takes to complete the job. The same goes for hoarding incidents which can range from $1500-$2500+ depending on how bad it is. Obviously, these rates don’t apply if you are just cleaning up after some kind of vandalism or fire damage.