Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
Also called: Advisory Industrial Hygienist, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Construction Safety Consultant, Consumer Safety Technician (Consumer Safety Tech), EHS Advisor (Environmental, Health, and Safety Advisor)
Median pay
$61,560
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$46,280 – $100,160
People employed
30,590
Holland code
CRI
Conventional · Realistic · Investigative
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 more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Tight deadlines are common
- Work outdoors in all weather
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians salary in every state →
What occupational health and safety technicians do
- 01Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
- 02Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
- 03Train 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.
- 04Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
- 05Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
- 06Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Engineering and Technology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- 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 technicians
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors91% · +87%
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors86% · group pay
- Construction and Building Inspectors85% · +21%
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators83% · group pay
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health82% · −11%
Change into occupational health and safety technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians83% · $110,240
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors82% · $80,730
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators80% · $80,730
- Agricultural Inspectors77% · $49,940
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators77% · $75,920
Majors that lead here
- Process Safety Technology/Technician
- Environmental Toxicology
- Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
- Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.