Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
SOC code 17-2111 · O*NET-SOC 17-2111.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Science and engineering
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$115,160
a year
Hourly
$55.36
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$119,770
$57.58 per hour
Middle 50%
$90,930 – $142,980
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$68,420 – $171,250
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
21,450
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $68,420
- $32.89/hr
- 25th percentile
- $90,930
- $43.72/hr
- Median percentile
- $115,160
- $55.36/hr
- 75th percentile
- $142,980
- $68.74/hr
- 90th percentile
- $171,250
- $82.33/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+4%
Growing faster than average
23,800
jobs in 2024
24,900
projected for 2034
About 1,100 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors do?
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
- Conduct research to evaluate safety levels for products.
- Evaluate product designs for safety.
- Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
- Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
- Recommend procedures for detection, prevention, and elimination of physical, chemical, or other product hazards.
- Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
- Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors earn?
The national median is $115,160 a year. The full range runs from $68,420 at the 10th percentile to $171,250 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 4% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Speaking3.6/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language3.9/5
- Engineering and Technology3.8/5
- Administration and Management3.7/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Public Safety and Security3.7/5
- Law and Government3.7/5
- Education and Training3.6/5
- Mechanical3.5/5
Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation.