Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (SOC 19-5011) earn a median $90,150 a year ($43.34 an hour) in the United States, with 140,610 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What occupational health and safety specialists do
Occupational health and safety specialists review work environments and design programs and procedures that control, remove, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents and by ergonomic factors. Typical tasks include recommending measures to protect workers from hazardous methods, processes, or materials, developing and maintaining hygiene programs such as noise surveys and continuous atmosphere monitoring, and investigating accidents to identify their causes and how similar events might be prevented. Specialists may also order the suspension of activities that threaten workers' health or safety, inspect facilities, and ensure compliance with regulations. The occupation differs from occupational health and safety technicians, who collect the data and carry out evaluations under the specialists' direction, and from health and safety engineers, who bring engineering design to the work of controlling hazards. They also collect samples of dust, gases, and vapors for analysis, check the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, and lighting, and work with engineers or physicians on control or remedial measures.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Chemical Hygiene Officer, Analysis Safety Inspector, Cause Analyst, Certified Indoor Environmentalist, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $26.44 | $33.44 | $43.34 | $53.70 | $64.88 | $45.12 | 140,610 |
| Annual | $55,000 | $69,560 | $90,150 | $111,690 | $134,950 | $93,860 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where occupational health and safety specialists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $32.69 | $46.73 | $53.62 | $63.76 | $75.36 | $55.32 | 280 | 0.40 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $68,000 | $97,190 | $111,530 | $132,620 | $156,750 | $115,070 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $32.93 | $40.03 | $49.99 | $61.21 | $73.93 | $51.22 | 3,390 | 0.93 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $68,490 | $83,260 | $103,970 | $127,320 | $153,770 | $106,540 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $33.40 | $41.40 | $49.48 | $61.08 | $71.31 | $51.26 | 3,570 | 1.00 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $69,470 | $86,110 | $102,920 | $127,050 | $148,330 | $106,620 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.73 | $37.06 | $49.44 | $62.25 | $77.55 | $51.19 | 16,230 | 0.89 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $59,760 | $77,080 | $102,840 | $129,490 | $161,300 | $106,470 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $32.11 | $39.81 | $48.91 | $57.90 | $71.80 | $50.94 | 200 | 0.40 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $66,800 | $82,800 | $101,740 | $120,430 | $149,350 | $105,940 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.30 | $29.57 | $38.30 | $49.49 | $60.82 | $40.58 | 17,920 | 1.27 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $46,380 | $61,500 | $79,660 | $102,950 | $126,500 | $84,410 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.73 | $37.06 | $49.44 | $62.25 | $77.55 | $51.19 | 16,230 | 0.89 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $59,760 | $77,080 | $102,840 | $129,490 | $161,300 | $106,470 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.00 | $33.58 | $46.02 | $58.84 | $69.28 | $47.47 | 6,840 | 0.71 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $60,320 | $69,840 | $95,720 | $122,380 | $144,100 | $98,740 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $27.61 | $34.76 | $43.97 | $53.48 | $65.57 | $46.32 | 6,820 | 1.23 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $57,430 | $72,300 | $91,460 | $111,230 | $136,390 | $96,350 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $23.58 | $31.08 | $42.70 | $52.85 | $64.00 | $43.60 | 6,760 | 0.68 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $49,050 | $64,650 | $88,820 | $109,940 | $133,120 | $90,680 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $37.97 | $51.07 | $62.01 | $77.77 | $94.82 | $65.59 | 830 | 0.73 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $78,980 | $106,220 | $128,980 | $161,750 | $197,220 | $136,420 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $36.82 | $41.97 | $60.99 | $77.86 | $93.71 | $61.07 | 2,550 | 1.07 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $76,590 | $87,300 | $126,860 | $161,960 | $194,920 | $127,030 | ||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | $36.07 | $47.45 | $60.56 | $70.58 | $80.66 | $59.42 | 290 | 2.28 | 2.52 |
| Annual | $75,020 | $98,690 | $125,970 | $146,810 | $167,760 | $123,590 | ||||
| Niles, MI | Hourly | $34.22 | $44.14 | $54.66 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $51.71 | 70 | 1.09 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $71,180 | $91,800 | $113,680 | $126,880 | $126,880 | $107,550 | ||||
| Lawrence, KS | Hourly | $31.98 | $37.06 | $52.76 | $59.34 | $63.94 | $49.67 | 40 | 0.71 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $66,520 | $77,080 | $109,740 | $123,440 | $132,980 | $103,310 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.87 | $32.49 | $46.31 | $60.72 | $71.98 | $47.95 | 6,020 | 0.63 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $60,060 | $67,590 | $96,320 | $126,300 | $149,720 | $99,740 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $23.22 | $30.75 | $39.86 | $51.95 | $64.46 | $43.41 | 5,650 | 1.72 | 1.90 |
| Annual | $48,300 | $63,960 | $82,910 | $108,050 | $134,070 | $90,280 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.30 | $35.93 | $49.33 | $59.44 | $68.70 | $48.47 | 5,550 | 0.89 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $58,860 | $74,740 | $102,610 | $123,630 | $142,900 | $100,830 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.95 | $29.48 | $38.94 | $49.58 | $59.98 | $40.37 | 3,660 | 0.91 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $47,730 | $61,320 | $81,000 | $103,130 | $124,750 | $83,980 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $33.75 | $41.31 | $50.94 | $62.74 | $75.96 | $52.53 | 2,720 | 1.01 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $70,200 | $85,920 | $105,960 | $130,500 | $158,000 | $109,250 | ||||
Top industries employing occupational health and safety specialists
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 6.8% of occupational health and safety specialists nationally (9,560 jobs) at a median $82,460 a year ($39.65 an hour), followed by Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (6.0%) and Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (5.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 9,560 | 6.8% | $82,460 | $39.65 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 8,400 | 6.0% | $77,340 | $37.18 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 7,410 | 5.3% | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 7,050 | 5.0% | $100,790 | $48.46 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 6,490 | 4.6% | $79,730 | $38.33 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (140,610). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,560 for occupational health and safety specialists in May 2021 and $90,150 in May 2025, with employment of 106,340 and 140,610.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,560 | $37.29 | 106,340 |
| May 2022 | $78,570 | $37.77 | 109,430 |
| May 2023 | $81,140 | $39.01 | 122,300 |
| May 2024 | $83,910 | $40.34 | 128,430 |
| May 2025 | $90,150 | $43.34 | 140,610 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $53.62 | $111,530 | $68,000 | $156,750 | 280 | 0.40 | 0.44 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $49.99 | $103,970 | $68,490 | $153,770 | 3,390 | 0.93 | 1.03 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $49.48 | $102,920 | $69,470 | $148,330 | 3,570 | 1.00 | 1.11 |
| 4 | California profile | $49.44 | $102,840 | $59,760 | $161,300 | 16,230 | 0.89 | 0.99 |
| 5 | Rhode Island profile | $48.91 | $101,740 | $66,800 | $149,350 | 200 | 0.40 | 0.44 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $48.75 | $101,400 | $64,140 | $153,030 | 3,080 | 1.07 | 1.18 |
| 7 | New Hampshire profile | $48.68 | $101,260 | $61,590 | $152,790 | 610 | 0.89 | 0.98 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $47.73 | $99,270 | $55,440 | $141,950 | 370 | 1.14 | 1.26 |
| 9 | Illinois profile | $47.25 | $98,270 | $61,160 | $137,000 | 2,900 | 0.48 | 0.53 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $46.94 | $97,640 | $58,580 | $118,280 | 600 | 0.93 | 1.03 |
| 11 | Minnesota profile | $46.63 | $96,990 | $67,990 | $129,810 | 2,460 | 0.84 | 0.92 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $46.21 | $96,110 | $63,230 | $146,810 | 1,090 | 0.65 | 0.71 |
| 13 | New York profile | $46.02 | $95,720 | $60,320 | $144,100 | 6,840 | 0.71 | 0.78 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $45.79 | $95,240 | $61,500 | $125,190 | 1,820 | 0.92 | 1.02 |
| 15 | Hawaii profile | $45.60 | $94,840 | $60,600 | $123,460 | 640 | 1.02 | 1.13 |
| 16 | Nevada profile | $45.36 | $94,360 | $61,700 | $131,960 | 1,150 | 0.74 | 0.82 |
| 17 | Wyoming profile | $45.21 | $94,030 | $61,820 | $133,900 | 580 | 2.05 | 2.27 |
| 18 | North Dakota profile | $44.83 | $93,250 | $63,660 | $130,410 | 540 | 1.25 | 1.39 |
| 19 | Maryland profile | $44.14 | $91,820 | $52,980 | $141,360 | 2,160 | 0.78 | 0.86 |
| 20 | Ohio profile | $43.97 | $91,460 | $57,430 | $136,390 | 6,820 | 1.23 | 1.36 |
| 21 | Virginia profile | $43.66 | $90,800 | $56,180 | $138,350 | 3,910 | 0.95 | 1.05 |
| 22 | New Jersey profile | $43.56 | $90,610 | $54,580 | $128,490 | 3,830 | 0.89 | 0.99 |
| 23 | Utah profile | $43.36 | $90,200 | $52,560 | $128,960 | 1,230 | 0.71 | 0.78 |
| 24 | Louisiana profile | $43.06 | $89,560 | $60,260 | $132,410 | 2,380 | 1.23 | 1.36 |
| 25 | Arizona profile | $43.02 | $89,480 | $57,200 | $128,120 | 3,220 | 0.99 | 1.10 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $42.70 | $88,820 | $49,050 | $133,120 | 6,760 | 0.68 | 0.75 |
| 27 | South Dakota profile | $42.60 | $88,610 | $48,590 | $121,840 | 250 | 0.54 | 0.60 |
| 28 | South Carolina profile | $42.35 | $88,080 | $57,520 | $135,940 | 2,170 | 0.94 | 1.04 |
| 29 | Iowa profile | $42.23 | $87,830 | $59,080 | $126,480 | 1,310 | 0.84 | 0.93 |
| 30 | Vermont profile | $41.93 | $87,210 | $66,690 | $127,130 | 170 | 0.55 | 0.61 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania profile | $41.85 | $87,050 | $60,270 | $132,250 | 4,890 | 0.81 | 0.89 |
| 32 | Idaho profile | $41.79 | $86,920 | $58,150 | $135,660 | 730 | 0.85 | 0.94 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | $41.66 | $86,650 | $59,550 | $129,710 | 4,670 | 0.95 | 1.05 |
| 34 | West Virginia profile | $41.62 | $86,560 | $42,130 | $128,850 | 1,020 | 1.46 | 1.61 |
| 35 | Kansas profile | $41.49 | $86,300 | $57,680 | $131,770 | 1,350 | 0.94 | 1.04 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $41.08 | $85,450 | $51,670 | $132,420 | 3,220 | 0.66 | 0.73 |
| 37 | Wisconsin profile | $40.74 | $84,750 | $61,680 | $128,430 | 2,250 | 0.76 | 0.84 |
| 38 | New Mexico profile | $40.63 | $84,510 | $48,730 | $132,090 | 840 | 0.96 | 1.06 |
| 39 | Mississippi profile | $40.62 | $84,490 | $47,050 | $125,140 | 1,140 | 0.98 | 1.08 |
| 40 | Michigan profile | $40.42 | $84,080 | $55,610 | $125,350 | 3,350 | 0.76 | 0.84 |
| 41 | Nebraska profile | $40.38 | $83,990 | $56,290 | $115,100 | 630 | 0.62 | 0.68 |
| 42 | Kentucky profile | $40.25 | $83,730 | $49,040 | $129,120 | 2,480 | 1.24 | 1.37 |
| 43 | Indiana profile | $40.13 | $83,470 | $52,850 | $125,000 | 3,870 | 1.21 | 1.34 |
| 44 | Missouri profile | $39.95 | $83,090 | $43,330 | $130,110 | 2,660 | 0.91 | 1.00 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $39.55 | $82,260 | $51,480 | $125,780 | 2,510 | 1.19 | 1.31 |
| 46 | Montana profile | $39.10 | $81,330 | $55,920 | $124,530 | 720 | 1.41 | 1.56 |
| 47 | Tennessee profile | $39.03 | $81,190 | $47,080 | $119,250 | 2,690 | 0.82 | 0.91 |
| 48 | Delaware profile | $39.00 | $81,120 | $54,990 | $133,320 | 600 | 1.24 | 1.37 |
| 49 | Oklahoma profile | $38.41 | $79,890 | $49,010 | $118,920 | 1,690 | 0.99 | 1.09 |
| 50 | Texas profile | $38.30 | $79,660 | $46,380 | $126,500 | 17,920 | 1.27 | 1.41 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $35.16 | $73,130 | $47,810 | $113,920 | 850 | 0.65 | 0.72 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-5010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-5011 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-5011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-5011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.