Occupational health and safety technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $61,560 | $29.59 |
| Mean (average) | $68,120 | $32.75 |
| 90th percentile | $100,160 | $48.15 |
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 technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,010 | $41,780 | $96,350 | 880 | 2.11 |
| Alaska | $80,760 | $44,210 | $135,420 | 140 | 2.15 |
| Arizona | $65,480 | $49,520 | $82,840 | 440 | 0.69 |
| Arkansas | $50,840 | $40,100 | $76,490 | 510 | 2.01 |
| California | $61,360 | $44,170 | $105,950 | 2,650 | 0.74 |
| Colorado | $73,110 | $56,640 | $97,460 | 400 | 0.71 |
| Connecticut | $68,310 | $60,910 | $104,460 | 130 | 0.39 |
| Delaware | $62,310 | $47,380 | $99,000 | 150 | 1.55 |
| Florida | $59,140 | $49,590 | $85,390 | 1,000 | 0.51 |
| Georgia | $63,290 | $48,030 | $103,380 | 1,210 | 1.26 |
| Guam | $39,710 | $29,870 | $63,720 | 140 | 10.47 |
| Idaho | $60,670 | $48,150 | $105,230 | 240 | 1.41 |
| Illinois | $65,960 | $50,810 | $106,480 | 1,790 | 1.49 |
| Indiana | $60,150 | $46,880 | $82,690 | 1,660 | 2.64 |
| Iowa | $58,300 | $45,700 | $82,170 | 290 | 0.93 |
| Kansas | $59,740 | $43,410 | $91,370 | 480 | 1.7 |
| Kentucky | $61,120 | $48,510 | $100,160 | 650 | 1.65 |
| Louisiana | $57,930 | $30,680 | $100,750 | 780 | 2.05 |
| Maine | $64,240 | $56,310 | $83,710 | 140 | 1.09 |
| Maryland | $64,670 | $44,260 | $95,740 | 280 | 0.52 |
| Massachusetts | $68,730 | $51,840 | $99,270 | 290 | 0.41 |
| Michigan | $67,310 | $48,490 | $112,080 | 450 | 0.52 |
| Minnesota | $74,400 | $50,730 | $94,890 | 270 | 0.47 |
| Mississippi | $61,230 | $37,920 | $100,680 | 360 | 1.56 |
| Missouri | $64,490 | $47,410 | $105,930 | 270 | 0.46 |
| Montana | $41,420 | $37,440 | $89,630 | 60 | 0.63 |
| Nebraska | $59,180 | $44,900 | $117,220 | 200 | 1.02 |
| Nevada | $61,770 | $49,790 | $108,520 | 440 | 1.46 |
| New Hampshire | $62,630 | $50,960 | $82,610 | 50 | 0.4 |
| New Jersey | $66,930 | $48,340 | $103,940 | 270 | 0.33 |
| New Mexico | $79,490 | $47,510 | $135,200 | 790 | 4.62 |
| New York | $69,640 | $48,690 | $93,890 | 1,410 | 0.74 |
| North Carolina | $61,760 | $49,400 | $89,340 | 720 | 0.74 |
| North Dakota | $56,000 | $39,700 | $99,370 | 150 | 1.76 |
| Ohio | $65,000 | $51,350 | $88,040 | 1,310 | 1.2 |
| Oklahoma | $56,470 | $34,530 | $80,990 | 370 | 1.1 |
| Oregon | $65,000 | $56,280 | $95,200 | 230 | 0.6 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,640 | $47,420 | $90,810 | 1,020 | 0.85 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,890 | $21,840 | $53,180 | ||
| Rhode Island | $84,640 | $52,470 | $131,280 | 60 | 0.57 |
| South Carolina | $58,490 | $45,030 | $92,460 | 420 | 0.94 |
| Tennessee | $55,090 | $45,030 | $74,360 | 310 | 0.47 |
| Texas | $57,980 | $44,060 | $87,770 | 4,420 | 1.6 |
| Utah | $57,340 | $39,100 | $79,990 | 280 | 0.82 |
| Vermont | $61,960 | $54,390 | $82,600 | 80 | 1.4 |
| Virginia | $62,380 | $41,470 | $96,530 | 840 | 1.04 |
| Washington | $104,910 | $58,010 | $119,920 | 570 | 0.81 |
| West Virginia | $81,470 | $60,040 | $91,190 | 320 | 2.32 |
| Wisconsin | $64,440 | $51,730 | $92,060 | 640 | 1.11 |
| Wyoming | $68,250 | $50,260 | $87,690 | 80 | 1.37 |
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 technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,800. 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 technicians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
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
- Process Safety Technology/Technician CIP 15.0705
- Environmental Toxicology CIP 26.1006
- Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician CIP 51.0916
- 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
- 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.
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 SharePoint (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Brady Lockout Pro
- Database software
- Email software
- Graphics software
- Industrial Scientific iNET
- QuestSuite Professional
- Remedy Interactive iMitigate
- Statistical analysis software
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Negotiation, Systems Analysis.
Common job titles: Advisory Industrial Hygienist, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Construction Safety Consultant, EHS Advisor (Environmental, Health, and Safety Advisor), Health and Safety Technician (Health and Safety Tech), Industrial Hygiene Consultant, Industrial Hygienist, Safety Specialist, Safety Technician (Safety Tech), Safety Trainer.
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 technicians make?
The national median annual wage for occupational health and safety technicians was $61,560 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,280 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $100,160. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do occupational health and safety technicians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is occupational health and safety technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of occupational health and safety technicians to change +19.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay occupational health and safety technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($104,910), Rhode Island ($84,640), West Virginia ($81,470). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.