A restoration technician does the hands-on work after a flood, fire or mold problem: extracting water, tearing out wet materials, setting and checking drying equipment, and cleaning and disinfecting. They work under a lead technician and can be called out at night when a pipe bursts.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Annual pay: 10th percentile $31,100, middle half $33,310 to $45,360, 90th percentile $53,720. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Reports to
Lead Technician / Specialist or Field Supervisor
Department
Operations
Schedule
Early starts, nights during emergencies · A day shift that starts early, with overtime and evening or weekend work when losses pile up after storms and freezes
Also called
Restoration helper · Water mitigation technician · Water damage technician · Mitigation tech · Restoration laborer
Restoration technician job description template
This is our Role Blueprint, word for word. Replace the highlighted fields and adjust the example targets and pay to fit your company.
[Lead Technician / Specialist or Field Supervisor]
Location:
[INSERT LOCATION HERE]
1. Position Summary
Responsible for supporting restoration efforts through structural drying, debris removal, disinfecting, and basic repairs to ensure properties are restored efficiently and safely. Plays a key role in mitigating damage and expediting the recovery process for residential and commercial properties. Contributes to the overall operational excellence and customer satisfaction by executing tasks with precision and adherence to safety guidelines.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Perform structural drying procedures using specialized equipment to prevent further damage.
Remove debris safely and efficiently from affected properties.
Apply disinfecting agents to affected areas to prevent mold growth and ensure a healthy environment.
Assist in basic repair tasks as dictated by job requirements and supervisor directions.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Set up and operate drying and dehumidifying equipment on job sites.
Safely remove and dispose of debris while adhering to regulatory standards.
Mix and apply disinfecting solutions in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and company protocols.
Communicate with supervisors and team members to coordinate daily activities and ensure timely project progress.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Job Completion Rate: 95% of projects completed on schedule.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: Achieve >4.8 stars on post-service surveys.
Safety Compliance: Maintain 0% recordable incidents per project.
Rework Rate: Keep rework percentage below 5%.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in home restoration, property maintenance, or related fields.
Basic understanding of industrial drying equipment and safety protocols.
Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately.
6. Preferred Experience
Previous experience working in restoration or disaster recovery environments.
Familiarity with water damage restoration techniques and disinfecting procedures.
Experience working in team-based environments with strict adherence to safety standards.
Hands-on experience with basic repair and maintenance tasks.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. consistently throughout the workday.
Capacity to work in environments that may be hot, damp, or confined.
Regularly required to stand, walk, bend, and work on uneven surfaces.
Must be physically fit and able to perform manual labor tasks throughout the shift.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM with potential overtime during peak service periods.
Occasional travel to on-site locations as needed.
Can be exposed to variable weather conditions and working environments.
May be required to work weekends or evenings during emergency restoration projects.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Competitive hourly wage range: $16 - $22 per hour based on experience.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses and overtime pay.
Comprehensive benefits package including Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
401(k) plan with company match and other fringe benefits.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we are committed to fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and mutual respect.
We thrive on collaboration, innovative problem-solving, and a desire to help our employees level up their skills and careers.
Our inclusive and supportive work environment encourages professional growth and long-term success.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
What's different about restoration technician work
Helpers in any trade carry, clean and learn. A restoration technician does it in buildings that are wet, smoky or moldy, often within hours of the damage, with chemicals and live power nearby.
Floodwater and power don't mix
OSHA's flood guidance says never to enter flooded areas or touch electrical equipment while the ground is wet, and to shut power off at the main breaker if water has been near circuits. Gas and diesel generators, pumps and pressure washers give off carbon monoxide, so they run outdoors, never inside. A new technician waits for the lead's go-ahead before stepping into standing water. Source: OSHA: Flood response and recovery.
The label on the jug is the law
Products that kill bacteria, viruses or mold on surfaces are antimicrobial pesticides, and EPA says pesticide labels are legally enforceable. Using one in a way its label doesn't allow breaks federal law. So a technician mixes at the label's rate, wears the gear it lists, and sprays only where it says. Keep the labels with the jugs on the truck, not just in the warehouse. Source: U.S. EPA: Introduction to pesticide labels.
Older homes need lead-safe training
EPA's lead rule covers homes built before 1978. Every worker who disturbs paint there needs either a certified renovator card or training on the job from someone who has one. That training is written down and kept. In a true emergency, the rule relaxes the training step, but only as much as the emergency demands. The cleanup afterward still needs trained hands. Train new technicians before their first planned tear-out in an older house. Source: U.S. EPA: RRP renovator training and certified renovator duties.
Learning what comes out and what stays
Soaked carpet pad, wet insulation and drywall that wicked water often go to the dumpster, while a hardwood floor or a cabinet may be dried in place. The lead makes the call, and the technician learns the reasons. EPA notes that porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet may have to be thrown away once they grow mold, because it can be hard or impossible to remove completely. Source: U.S. EPA: What are the basic mold cleanup steps?.
How much restoration technicians make
The closest BLS group for restoration technicians is helpers, construction trades. Helpers, construction trades who work for remediation companies earned a median of $17.73 an hour ($36,870 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s below the $42,670 median for helpers, construction trades in all industries. About 110 of the 24,770 helpers, construction trades in that survey work for remediation companies.
BLS counts a trainee under the trade being learned; in restoration, that's hazardous materials removal workers. That group includes seasoned abatement workers, so its median sits above the template's starting range. Helpers are counted on their own, and the construction helper figure shown here is closer to a first-year wage. Template pay is hourly, plus overtime and bonuses.
Remediation companies
$36,870$36,870 median Middle half $33,310–$45,360 10th–90th $31,100–$53,720
All industries
$42,670$42,670 median Middle half $37,030–$48,880 10th–90th $32,900–$60,080
$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Remediation companies
$31,100
$33,310
$36,870
$45,360
$53,720
All industries
$32,900
$37,030
$42,670
$48,880
$60,080
BLS doesn’t publish pay for restoration contractors on their own. These figures cover remediation and other waste management services, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Picks up the phone for a night call-out when it's their turn
Willing to work sewage, soot and mold jobs in full protective gear
Can crawl under a house, climb into an attic or wade a wet basement to do the work
Keeps track of details, like which air mover went in which room
Stays kind with owners who just lost a kitchen or a basement of keepsakes
Has a valid driver's license, where technicians drive company vans
Teach these on the job
Placing and moving drying equipment
Taking and logging moisture readings
Extraction with portable and truck-mount units
Containment, protective gear and respirator use
The IICRC Water Damage Restoration Technician course
Technicians run the gear the lead assigns: extractors, air movers and dehumidifiers, plus pry bars, oscillating saws and HEPA vacuums for tear-out and sprayers for antimicrobials. Protective gear on most jobs means gloves, eye protection and disposable coveralls, with a respirator added on mold, sewage and soot work.
Restoration technician interview questions
They have their own page: 7 questions that test this job, what strong and weak answers sound like, and a work exercise to run with your finalists.
The template's sample targets suit an experienced crew. For a new hire, track the same four measures from the first week, and compare them with their crew's results.
Job Completion Rate
Jobs the technician worked that dried and closed on the planned date. A technician doesn't set the plan, so also check whether their own steps, like daily readings and equipment moves, happened on time.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Few surveys name a technician, so ask the lead after each job how the technician treated the owner and their things, and add any survey comment that mentions them by name.
Safety Compliance
Track the technician's own injuries and near misses, plus any time a lead found them without required protective gear. Talk through each one the same week.
Rework Rate
Count tasks the lead had to redo, such as equipment set in the wrong spot, a missed reading or a cut in the wrong place. Use the list for coaching, not only as a score.
Career path
Laborer, carpet cleaner or construction helperBrings work habits and comfort with tools.
Restoration technicianLearns extraction, tear-out, equipment and readings.
Lead technicianSets the plan on each loss and leads the crew.
Can you hire a restoration technician with no restoration experience?
Yes, if you're ready to train them, even though the template wants one to two years. Carpet cleaning, construction labor, moving and property maintenance carry over well. Harder to teach: showing up at dawn for a call-out and following directions in a messy house. IICRC lists no prerequisites for its Water Damage Restoration Technician course, so a new hire can take it early.
How much does a restoration technician make?
Helpers, construction trades who work for remediation companies earned a median of $17.73 an hour ($36,870 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $33,310 and $45,360 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
Does a new restoration technician need a respirator fit test?
Yes, if your program puts them in a tight-fitting mask for mold, sewage or soot jobs. OSHA requires a medical evaluation first, then a fit test before first use, a new one at least yearly, and another whenever the mask's size, style, model or make changes. Finish both before the technician's first mold job, not on the drive there.
How does a restoration technician differ from a lead technician?
The technician does the work the lead assigns. The lead sets the plan: the water category, what comes out, where equipment goes, and when the job is dry. Promote a technician when they can run a small water loss alone and explain why each air mover sits where it does.
Is restoration technician work steady all year?
Mostly, with spikes. Hard freezes burst pipes, storm season brings roof leaks and flooding, and fires and plumbing leaks happen in any month. Slow weeks go to cleaning equipment, warehouse work and training. Tell candidates which seasons get busy in your area and how overtime works then.
