Occupational health and safety specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Mean (average) | $93,860 | $45.12 |
| 90th percentile | $134,950 | $64.88 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Occupational health and safety specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $82,260 | $51,480 | $125,780 | 2,510 | 1.31 |
| Alaska | $99,270 | $55,440 | $141,950 | 370 | 1.26 |
| Arizona | $89,480 | $57,200 | $128,120 | 3,220 | 1.1 |
| Arkansas | $73,130 | $47,810 | $113,920 | 850 | 0.72 |
| California | $102,840 | $59,760 | $161,300 | 16,230 | 0.99 |
| Colorado | $101,400 | $64,140 | $153,030 | 3,080 | 1.18 |
| Connecticut | $96,110 | $63,230 | $146,810 | 1,090 | 0.71 |
| Delaware | $81,120 | $54,990 | $133,320 | 600 | 1.37 |
| District of Columbia | $111,530 | $68,000 | $156,750 | 280 | 0.44 |
| Florida | $88,820 | $49,050 | $133,120 | 6,760 | 0.75 |
| Georgia | $85,450 | $51,670 | $132,420 | 3,220 | 0.73 |
| Guam | $68,030 | $39,680 | $109,620 | 100 | 1.73 |
| Hawaii | $94,840 | $60,600 | $123,460 | 640 | 1.13 |
| Idaho | $86,920 | $58,150 | $135,660 | 730 | 0.94 |
| Illinois | $98,270 | $61,160 | $137,000 | 2,900 | 0.53 |
| Indiana | $83,470 | $52,850 | $125,000 | 3,870 | 1.34 |
| Iowa | $87,830 | $59,080 | $126,480 | 1,310 | 0.93 |
| Kansas | $86,300 | $57,680 | $131,770 | 1,350 | 1.04 |
| Kentucky | $83,730 | $49,040 | $129,120 | 2,480 | 1.37 |
| Louisiana | $89,560 | $60,260 | $132,410 | 2,380 | 1.36 |
| Maine | $97,640 | $58,580 | $118,280 | 600 | 1.03 |
| Maryland | $91,820 | $52,980 | $141,360 | 2,160 | 0.86 |
| Massachusetts | $103,970 | $68,490 | $153,770 | 3,390 | 1.03 |
| Michigan | $84,080 | $55,610 | $125,350 | 3,350 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $96,990 | $67,990 | $129,810 | 2,460 | 0.92 |
| Mississippi | $84,490 | $47,050 | $125,140 | 1,140 | 1.08 |
| Missouri | $83,090 | $43,330 | $130,110 | 2,660 | 1 |
| Montana | $81,330 | $55,920 | $124,530 | 720 | 1.56 |
| Nebraska | $83,990 | $56,290 | $115,100 | 630 | 0.68 |
| Nevada | $94,360 | $61,700 | $131,960 | 1,150 | 0.82 |
| New Hampshire | $101,260 | $61,590 | $152,790 | 610 | 0.98 |
| New Jersey | $90,610 | $54,580 | $128,490 | 3,830 | 0.99 |
| New Mexico | $84,510 | $48,730 | $132,090 | 840 | 1.06 |
| New York | $95,720 | $60,320 | $144,100 | 6,840 | 0.78 |
| North Carolina | $86,650 | $59,550 | $129,710 | 4,670 | 1.05 |
| North Dakota | $93,250 | $63,660 | $130,410 | 540 | 1.39 |
| Ohio | $91,460 | $57,430 | $136,390 | 6,820 | 1.36 |
| Oklahoma | $79,890 | $49,010 | $118,920 | 1,690 | 1.09 |
| Oregon | $95,240 | $61,500 | $125,190 | 1,820 | 1.02 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,050 | $60,270 | $132,250 | 4,890 | 0.89 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,630 | $33,420 | $81,070 | 1,430 | 1.68 |
| Rhode Island | $101,740 | $66,800 | $149,350 | 200 | 0.44 |
| South Carolina | $88,080 | $57,520 | $135,940 | 2,170 | 1.04 |
| South Dakota | $88,610 | $48,590 | $121,840 | 250 | 0.6 |
| Tennessee | $81,190 | $47,080 | $119,250 | 2,690 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $79,660 | $46,380 | $126,500 | 17,920 | 1.41 |
| Utah | $90,200 | $52,560 | $128,960 | 1,230 | 0.78 |
| Vermont | $87,210 | $66,690 | $127,130 | 170 | 0.61 |
| Virginia | $90,800 | $56,180 | $138,350 | 3,910 | 1.05 |
| Washington | $102,920 | $69,470 | $148,330 | 3,570 | 1.11 |
| West Virginia | $86,560 | $42,130 | $128,850 | 1,020 | 1.61 |
| Wisconsin | $84,750 | $61,680 | $128,430 | 2,250 | 0.84 |
| Wyoming | $94,030 | $61,820 | $133,900 | 580 | 2.27 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for occupational health and safety specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 17,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for occupational health and safety specialists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician CIP 15.0701
- Industrial Safety Technology/Technician CIP 15.0703
- Environmental Toxicology CIP 26.1006
- Environmental Health CIP 51.2202
- Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene CIP 51.2206
- Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality CIP 51.2213
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Curtis Management Resources Training Management System
- Database software
- ESS Compliance Suite
- EcoLogic ADAM Indoor Air Quality and Analytical Data Management
- ImageWave MSDSFinder
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Instructing.
Common job titles: Chemical Hygiene Officer, EHS Officer (Environmental Health and Safety Officer), Health and Safety Analyst, Industrial Hygiene Consultant, Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Hygienist Consultant, OHS Consultant (Occupational Health and Safety Consultant), Risk Control Consultant, Safety Consultant, Safety Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do occupational health and safety specialists make?
The national median annual wage for occupational health and safety specialists was $90,150 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $55,000 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $134,950. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do occupational health and safety specialists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is occupational health and safety specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of occupational health and safety specialists to change +18.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 17,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay occupational health and safety specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($111,530), Massachusetts ($103,970), Washington ($102,920). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.