Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
SOC code 19-5011 · O*NET-SOC 19-5011.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Science and engineering
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$90,150
a year
Hourly
$43.34
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$93,860
$45.12 per hour
Middle 50%
$69,560 – $111,690
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$55,000 – $134,950
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
140,610
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $55,000
- $26.44/hr
- 25th percentile
- $69,560
- $33.44/hr
- Median percentile
- $90,150
- $43.34/hr
- 75th percentile
- $111,690
- $53.70/hr
- 90th percentile
- $134,950
- $64.88/hr
What do occupational health and safety specialists do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 74% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
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.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree74%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate9%
- Master's Degree9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4%
Common questions
How much does an occupational health and safety specialists earn?
The national median is $90,150 a year. The full range runs from $55,000 at the 10th percentile to $134,950 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an occupational health and safety specialists 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.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.0/5
- Chemistry3.9/5
- Education and Training3.8/5
- Mathematics3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Engineering and Technology3.6/5
- Biology3.6/5
- Law and Government3.5/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation.