Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: Career Overview
Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.
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What Tasks Do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of occupational health and safety specialists cover:
- Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
- Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
- Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
- Collaborate with engineers or physicians to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
- Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
What Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Need to Know
Effective occupational health and safety specialists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Analysis Safety Inspector
- Cause Analyst
- Certified Indoor Environmentalist
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
- Chemical Hygiene Officer
- Construction Safety Manager
- Consumer Safety Inspector
- Dining Service Inspector
Job Outlook
There are about 70,623 occupational health and safety specialists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +2.7% over the projection horizon.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $105,544 |
| Hourly median | $50.74 |
| 10th percentile | $58,719 |
| 25th percentile | $82,131 |
| 75th percentile | $128,956 |
| 90th percentile | $152,368 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $115,710 |
| California | $99,530 |
| Washington | $98,300 |
| Rhode Island | $98,240 |
| Illinois | $96,570 |
| Colorado | $96,310 |
| Massachusetts | $96,250 |
| Minnesota | $93,640 |
| Wyoming | $93,010 |
| New Hampshire | $92,220 |
| Alaska | $91,670 |
| New Jersey | $91,360 |
| Connecticut | $90,790 |
| Hawaii | $89,620 |
| New York | $87,580 |
| Georgia | $87,280 |
| Utah | $87,000 |
| West Virginia | $86,940 |
| Delaware | $85,820 |
| Vermont | $85,620 |
| Nevada | $85,530 |
| Maine | $85,350 |
| North Dakota | $84,020 |
| Ohio | $82,700 |
| Oregon | $82,660 |
| South Carolina | $82,220 |
| North Carolina | $82,160 |
| Oklahoma | $82,030 |
| Maryland | $81,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,840 |
| Virginia | $81,690 |
| Missouri | $80,500 |
| Louisiana | $80,440 |
| Arizona | $80,180 |
| New Mexico | $79,820 |
| Mississippi | $79,790 |
| Wisconsin | $79,560 |
| Iowa | $79,560 |
| South Dakota | $79,460 |
| Nebraska | $79,170 |
| Idaho | $78,890 |
| Indiana | $78,760 |
| Kansas | $78,480 |
| Michigan | $78,280 |
| Florida | $77,250 |
| Tennessee | $76,770 |
| Kentucky | $76,400 |
| Texas | $76,280 |
| Alabama | $75,440 |
| Montana | $74,500 |
| Arkansas | $71,570 |
| Guam | $62,980 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,050 |
Where Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Earn the Most
Compensation for occupational health and safety specialists vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $96,891 | 17.2% | 1.04 |
| New England | $93,718 | 4.5% | 0.99 |
| Rocky Mountains | $90,003 | 4.7% | 1.28 |
| Middle Atlantic | $86,200 | 12.5% | 0.86 |
| Plains States | $83,919 | 6.4% | 0.96 |
| Great Lakes | $82,656 | 12.7% | 1.02 |
| Southeast | $79,942 | 23.3% | 0.99 |
| Southwest | $77,369 | 17.7% | 1.42 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $132,230 | 960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $125,600 | 1,850 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $113,120 | 270 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $103,120 | |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $102,150 | 170 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $101,920 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $101,060 | 810 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $100,730 | 100 |
Top Industries Employing Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
The largest employers of occupational health and safety specialists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22,630 | $83,710 |
| Construction | 19,940 | $84,890 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 14,280 | $84,080 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10,640 | $74,350 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 5,970 | $80,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 5,550 | $98,710 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 5,510 | $86,430 |
| Educational Services | 5,190 | $76,200 |
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists work in the following industries:
Software Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for occupational health and safety specialists tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How to Become Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Entry-level occupational health and safety specialists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Security Managers (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Primary-Short)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Supplemental)
- Security Management Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Primary-Short)
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Students preparing for occupational health and safety specialists commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 1 majors
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
2 programs across 1 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-5011.00 (Occupational Health and Safety Specialists).
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