Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for occupational health and safety specialists in the U.S. is $90,150 ($43.34 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $90,150
- Mean annual wage
- $93,860
- Median hourly wage
- $43.34
- Employment
- 140,610
140,610 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| 25th percentile | $69,560 | $33.44 |
| Median (50th) | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| 75th percentile | $111,690 | $53.70 |
| 90th percentile | $134,950 | $64.88 |
Highest-paying states for occupational health and safety specialists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,530 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $103,970 | 3,390 |
| Washington | $102,920 | 3,570 |
| California | $102,840 | 16,230 |
| Rhode Island | $101,740 | 200 |
| Colorado | $101,400 | 3,080 |
| New Hampshire | $101,260 | 610 |
| Alaska | $99,270 | 370 |
| Illinois | $98,270 | 2,900 |
| Maine | $97,640 | 600 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $73,130 median annual wage
- Texas: $79,660 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $79,890 median annual wage
- Delaware: $81,120 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $81,190 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Collaborate with engineers or physicians to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
- Inspect specified areas to ensure the presence of fire prevention equipment, safety equipment, or first-aid supplies.
- Maintain inventories of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes, using waste tracking systems to ensure that materials are handled properly.
- 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.
- Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 16.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.8% |
| Associate's degree | 10.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 33.0% |
| Master's degree | 15.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 2.0% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220
- Chemists$91,240
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,280
- Biological Technicians$57,510
- School Psychologists$95,990
- Chemical Technicians$60,390
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.