Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: Career Overview
Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Do?
The core tasks performed by occupational health and safety technicians cover:
- Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
- Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
- Train workers in safety procedures related to green jobs, such as the use of fall protection devices or maintenance of proper ventilation during wind turbine construction.
- Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
- Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
- Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.
- Inspect fire suppression systems or portable fire systems to ensure proper working order.
- Verify availability or monitor use of safety equipment, such as hearing protection or respirators.
What Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Need to Know
Effective occupational health and safety technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Advisory Industrial Hygienist
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
- Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
- Construction Safety Consultant
- Consumer Safety Technician (Consumer Safety Tech)
- EHS Advisor (Environmental, Health, and Safety Advisor)
- EHS Coordinator (Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator)
- Environmental Health Technologist
Employment and Demand
There are about 50,056 occupational health and safety technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +9.1% over the projection horizon.
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,647 |
| Hourly median | $23.39 |
| 10th percentile | $35,288 |
| 25th percentile | $41,968 |
| 75th percentile | $55,327 |
| 90th percentile | $62,007 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $80,270 |
| Rhode Island | $79,530 |
| Alaska | $76,290 |
| New Mexico | $75,920 |
| Minnesota | $73,970 |
| Oregon | $68,640 |
| Colorado | $66,560 |
| Illinois | $66,000 |
| New Jersey | $65,340 |
| Massachusetts | $65,010 |
| Idaho | $64,950 |
| Wyoming | $64,650 |
| Michigan | $64,220 |
| Wisconsin | $63,790 |
| Nebraska | $63,720 |
| Utah | $63,510 |
| Nevada | $62,910 |
| Arizona | $62,620 |
| New York | $62,290 |
| Connecticut | $61,790 |
| Maryland | $61,170 |
| District of Columbia | $61,030 |
| Maine | $60,670 |
| Kentucky | $60,410 |
| Ohio | $60,390 |
| Missouri | $60,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,050 |
| Montana | $59,940 |
| Delaware | $59,770 |
| Virginia | $59,340 |
| New Hampshire | $59,330 |
| Indiana | $58,440 |
| Mississippi | $58,220 |
| Georgia | $58,090 |
| California | $57,990 |
| North Carolina | $57,610 |
| West Virginia | $57,500 |
| Florida | $56,360 |
| Vermont | $56,160 |
| Iowa | $56,070 |
| South Carolina | $55,270 |
| Oklahoma | $53,420 |
| North Dakota | $52,790 |
| Alabama | $52,510 |
| Kansas | $52,080 |
| Louisiana | $52,020 |
| Tennessee | $51,210 |
| Texas | $49,690 |
| Arkansas | $49,090 |
| Guam | $39,950 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,850 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for occupational health and safety technicians vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $65,188 | 3.0% | 0.76 |
| New England | $63,337 | 3.0% | 0.72 |
| Great Lakes | $62,413 | 19.3% | 1.64 |
| Far Western US | $62,033 | 16.3% | 1.05 |
| Middle Atlantic | $61,840 | 10.3% | 0.79 |
| Plains States | $59,780 | 5.5% | 1.01 |
| Southeast | $55,828 | 22.0% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $52,399 | 20.0% | 1.73 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $89,490 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $86,190 | 200 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | NE | $82,930 | 60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $80,810 | 210 |
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $77,130 | 270 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $76,720 | 80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $73,970 | 160 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $72,820 | 1,170 |
Which Industries Hire Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
The largest employers of occupational health and safety technicians are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 9,010 | $57,400 |
| Manufacturing | 5,400 | $65,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4,580 | $49,140 |
| Construction | 2,580 | $72,110 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,710 | $50,900 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 970 | $58,690 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 920 | $64,780 |
| Educational Services | 880 | $62,160 |
Below are examples of industries where occupational health and safety technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (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)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for occupational health and safety technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Contact With Others
How to Become Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Most occupational health and safety technicians positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Emergency Management Directors (Supplemental)
- Compliance Managers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Primary-Short)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (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)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for occupational health and safety technicians often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
4 programs across 2 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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: 19-5012.00 (Occupational Health and Safety Technicians).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.