Want To Become A Crime Scene Cleaner & Want To Know How Much They Earn?
Crime scene cleaning is an important job. It is a job that requires special skills, training, and care. The people who do this work clean up places where something terrible has happened. These places can be crime scenes or accidents where there might be blood, body fluids, or other dangerous substances. It is not an easy job, but it is necessary to make sure the area is safe again. In this blog, we will talk about how much crime scene cleaning professionals make, what their job involves, and how you can become one.
What Is Crime Scene Cleaning?
Crime scene cleaning is also known as biohazard cleaning. This is because cleaners often deal with hazardous materials. These materials can include blood, chemicals, or other substances that are dangerous to touch or breathe. When there is a crime or accident, cleaning up the scene is very important. Professionals are trained to handle these dangerous situations. They know how to clean everything safely, so no one gets sick or hurt after the cleanup.
Related: What Types Of Crime Scenes Do Cleaners Handle?
What Does A Crime Scene Cleaner Do?
Crime scene cleaners do much more than just clean up blood or dirt. Their job includes:
- Biohazard cleaning: They clean up dangerous materials like blood, body fluids, and chemicals.
- Hazardous waste disposal: They safely get rid of the dangerous materials they clean up.
- Cleaning areas after accidents, crimes, or deaths.
- Making sure that the place is safe for people to return to.
These jobs are very important for public safety. The places where these incidents happen could be homes, offices, or public spaces. After a crime scene cleaning, the area should be safe for anyone to enter.
How Much Do Crime Scene Cleaners Make?
People who work in crime scene cleaning usually make between $35,000 to $80,000 each year. The exact amount depends on many things like experience, location, and how often they work. Some jobs might be harder or more dangerous than others, which can increase their pay.
1. Entry-Level Salary
When someone starts working in crime scene cleaning, they usually make about $35,000 to $45,000 each year. At this level, they are still learning how to do the job well and might be supervised by more experienced cleaners.
2. How Much Experienced Crime Scene Cleaners Make Money
As cleaners gain more experience, their salary can increase. People with more experience might make between $50,000 to $60,000 each year. They might also handle harder cleanups, like biohazard or large crime scenes.
3. How Much Highly Experienced Cleaners Make Money
Veterans in high-risk jobs, like biohazard cleaning, can make over $80,000 a year. This is especially true in big cities. They are usually in charge of a team or handle the most difficult jobs.
Factors That Affect Salary
There are several things that can change how much a crime scene cleaning professional makes. Here are some of them:
1. Experience
Just like with any other job, the more experience someone has, the more they can earn. Entry-level cleaners usually make less, but as they become better at the job, their salary can go up.
2. Location
Where a person works also affects their salary. People who work in big cities or areas with high demand for crime scene cleaning might make more money than those who work in smaller towns.
3. Specialized Training
Some cleaners have special training in areas like biohazard cleaning or hazardous waste disposal. These types of jobs are more dangerous and require extra care. Because of this, people with specialized training usually make more money.
4. Type Of Job
The type of job a cleaner handles can also affect their pay. For example, cleaning up after a violent crime might pay more than cleaning up after a natural death because the scene could be more dangerous.
How To Become A Crime Scene Cleaner
If you are interested in becoming a crime scene cleaning professional, there are some steps you can follow:
1. Get Basic Education
Most jobs in this field do not require a college degree. However, you will need a high school diploma or GED. It is important to have a strong understanding of biology and chemistry because you will be dealing with hazardous materials.
2. Take Specialized Training
Before you can start working in biohazard cleaning, you need to take special training. This training will teach you how to handle dangerous materials safely. It will also show you how to do hazardous waste disposal.
3. Gain Experience
Many companies want to hire people who already have some experience. You can gain experience by working in related jobs like janitorial work or general cleaning. After gaining experience, you can apply for a job in crime scene cleaning.
4. Get Certifications
Getting certified in certain areas, such as hazardous waste disposal or handling bloodborne pathogens, will make you more qualified for higher-paying jobs. Certifications show employers that you know how to handle dangerous situations safely.
Costs Of Crime Scene Cleaning
The cost of crime scene cleaning can vary depending on several factors. Below is a table that shows the average costs for different types of cleanups:
| Type of Cleanup | Cost |
| Small blood spill | $500 - $1,000 |
| Large blood spill | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Suicide cleanup | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| Homicide cleanup | $3,000 - $10,000 |
| Decomposition cleanup | $4,000 - $15,000 |
| Industrial accident cleanup | $5,000 - $20,000 |
| Biohazard cleaning | $1,000 - $10,000 |
| Hazardous waste disposal | $500 - $5,000 per job |
These costs can change depending on the size of the cleanup, the type of materials being cleaned, and the location.
Why Crime Scene Cleaning Is Important
Crime scene cleaning is not just about making a place look clean again. It is about making sure the area is safe for people to return. Dangerous substances like blood, chemicals, or body fluids can make people sick if they are not cleaned up properly. That is why professionals in this field are trained to handle these materials safely.
They also know how to do hazardous waste disposal in a way that does not harm the environment or other people. Without these professionals, the aftermath of a crime or accident could remain a danger to anyone who enters the area.
Crime Scene Cleaning: A Rewarding Career In Public Safety And Specialized Cleanup
Crime scene cleaning is a challenging but important job. It requires special skills, training, and care. While the job can be emotionally difficult, it is also rewarding. People in this field can earn a good salary. It increases with experience and specialized jobs. These include biohazard cleaning and hazardous waste disposal.
If you are interested in this line of work, remember that it takes time to gain the experience and certifications needed to earn a higher salary. However, for those who stick with it, crime scene cleaning offers a unique and important role in keeping the public safe.
