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.
Also called: Analysis Safety Inspector, Cause Analyst, Certified Indoor Environmentalist, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Chemical Hygiene Officer, Construction Safety Manager
Median pay
$90,150
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$55,000 – $134,950
People employed
140,610
Holland code
ICR
Investigative · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary in every state →
What occupational health and safety specialists do
- 01Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- 02Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- 03Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
- 04Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- 05Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
- 06Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from occupational health and safety specialists
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors93% · +28%
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors90% · group pay
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health83% · −9%
- Environmental Engineers82% · +19%
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers79% · group pay
Change into occupational health and safety specialists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors90% · $80,730
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors86% · $115,160
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers82% · $115,160
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health81% · $55,090
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health80% · $82,220
Majors that lead here
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician
- Industrial Safety Technology/Technician
- Environmental Toxicology
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
- Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.