Hazard pay, as the name implies, is extra pay compensating for some form of danger or hazard employees face. Essentially, this extra pay serves as an incentive to knowingly take on these risks while on the job.
It’s important to note that hazard pay is not regulated at the federal level for private employers/employees and is not legally mandated for any particular private job or situation—even ones that are generally accepted to be dangerous*.
Generally speaking, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations help ensure workplaces are as safe as can be, while market rates generally dictate the amount of pay someone is willing to work for in situations that involve any type of danger or hazard.
