Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
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.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,660 | $74,060 | $35.60 | |
| Alaska | 340 | $91,420 | $43.95 | |
| Arizona | 2,120 | $74,180 | $35.66 | |
| Arkansas | 640 | $69,190 | $33.27 | |
| California | 12,850 | $79,410 | $38.18 | |
| Colorado | 2,820 | $91,950 | $44.21 | |
| Connecticut | 1,110 | $86,800 | $41.73 | |
| Delaware | 550 | $86,380 | $41.53 | |
| District of Columbia | 310 | $94,260 | $45.32 | |
| Florida | 4,040 | $71,960 | $34.60 | |
| Georgia | 1,850 | $81,210 | $39.04 | |
| Hawaii | 720 | $74,620 | $35.88 | |
| Idaho | 560 | $71,590 | $34.42 | |
| Illinois | 1,820 | $82,980 | $39.90 | |
| Indiana | 2,380 | $70,000 | $33.66 | |
| Iowa | 1,090 | $74,960 | $36.04 | |
| Kansas | 840 | $74,380 | $35.76 | |
| Kentucky | 1,750 | $70,280 | $33.79 | |
| Louisiana | 1,560 | $79,670 | $38.30 | |
| Maine | 500 | $75,140 | $36.12 | |
| Maryland | 1,440 | $86,250 | $41.46 | |
| Massachusetts | 1,900 | $90,360 | $43.44 | |
| Michigan | 2,900 | $78,410 | $37.70 | |
| Minnesota | 1,690 | $84,210 | $40.49 | |
| Mississippi | 600 | $72,110 | $34.67 | |
| Missouri | 1,680 | $75,770 | $36.43 | |
| Montana | 600 | $73,060 | $35.13 | |
| Nebraska | 570 | $66,080 | $31.77 | |
| Nevada | 990 | $77,770 | $37.39 | |
| New Hampshire | 440 | $83,970 | $40.37 | |
| New Jersey | 2,590 | $89,960 | $43.25 | |
| New Mexico | 1,050 | $82,460 | $39.64 | |
| New York | 4,180 | $84,330 | $40.54 | |
| North Carolina | 2,840 | $74,620 | $35.87 | |
| North Dakota | 570 | $84,040 | $40.41 | |
| Ohio | 5,300 | $79,060 | $38.01 | |
| Oklahoma | 1,220 | $71,620 | $34.44 | |
| Oregon | 1,360 | $81,300 | $39.09 | |
| Pennsylvania | 4,300 | $75,330 | $36.22 | |
| Rhode Island | 170 | $92,060 | $44.26 | |
| South Carolina | 2,070 | $66,810 | $32.12 | |
| South Dakota | 110 | $72,430 | $34.82 | |
| Tennessee | 2,090 | $77,270 | $37.15 | |
| Texas | 16,070 | $76,510 | $36.78 | |
| Utah | 1,250 | $85,710 | $41.21 | |
| Vermont | 150 | $77,320 | $37.18 | |
| Virginia | 3,700 | $74,260 | $35.70 | |
| Washington | 2,820 | $93,770 | $45.08 | |
| West Virginia | 720 | $75,360 | $36.23 | |
| Wisconsin | 990 | $76,430 | $36.75 | |
| Wyoming | 480 | $82,300 | $39.57 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in maintaining job-related health and safety standards. Includes instruction in safety engineering principles, inspection and monitoring procedures, testing and sampling procedures, laboratory techniques, applications to specific work environments, and report preparation.
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to assist engineers and other professionals in implementing and enforcing industrial safety standards to mitigate damage, reduce risks, and prevent accidents. Includes instruction in industrial processes, industrial hygiene, injury prevention, toxicology, ergonomics, risk analysis, system and process safety, safety performance measurement, human factors, human behavior, and applicable law and regulations.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the health effects associated with exposure to toxic chemicals and systems occurring in the natural, work, and living environments; the management of environmental toxins and toxicity; and the development of protections for humans, animals, and plants. Includes instruction in applied ecology; microbiology; toxin transport, fate, and degradation; dermal toxicology; reproductive and genetic toxicology; atmospheric and environmental chemistry; metals toxicology; environmental mutagens and biotransformation; nutrient interaction; chemical sensitivity, disorders, and disease; risk assessment; animal waste management; environmental health; and hazardous materials management.
A program that focuses on the application of environmental sciences, public health, the biomedical sciences, and environmental toxicology to the study of environmental factors affecting human health, safety, and related ecological issues, and prepares individuals to function as professional environmental health specialists. Includes instruction in epidemiology, biostatistics, toxicology, public policy analysis, public management, risk assessment, communications, environmental law, occupational health and safety emergency response, and applications such as air quality, food protection, radiation protection, solid and hazardous waste management, water quality, soil quality, noise abatement, housing quality, and environmental control of recreational areas.
A program that prepares public health specialists to monitor and evaluate health and related safety standards in industrial, commercial, and government workplaces and facilities. Includes instruction in occupational health and safety standards and regulations; health-related aspects of various occupations and work environments; health hazard testing and evaluation; test equipment operation and maintenance; industrial toxicology; worker health and safety education; and the analysis and testing of job-related equipment, behavior practices, and protective devices and procedures.
A program that focuses on the application of transformative mechanisms and evidence-based protocols to reduce preventable patient harm and improve clinical outcomes. Includes instruction in healthcare quality, patient safety, research methods, program evaluation, epidemiology, legal and regulatory compliance, systems thinking, human factors engineering, and risk management.
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$78,740 per yearNational average salaryModerateJob growth rate
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Bachelor's degreeTypical education requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as occupational health and safety specialists.
- Less than high school 2%
- High school graduate 17%
- College dropout 20%
- Associate’s degree 10%
- Bachelor’s degree 36%
- Master’s degree 15%
- Doctorate degree 1%
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