Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Occupational health and safety specialists focus on protecting people’s health and safety in work settings. This career combines scientific knowledge, analytical thinking, and strong communication skills. Nationally, there are about 132,000 jobs in this occupation, with a median annual salary of $83,910, indicating solid earning potential across the field. Projected employment growth of 12.5% and 15,000 annual openings suggest a consistent flow of opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals. Strong skills in science, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking are especially important, supported by abilities in mathematics, writing and reading, and computers and information technology. Leadership, speaking and listening, project management, and interpersonal skills also contribute to long-term success. For those exploring related paths, similar occupations include occupational health and safety technicians, zoologists and wildlife biologists, animal scientists, health and safety engineers (except mining), and natural sciences managers, offering additional options within science- and safety-focused careers.
The national median annual salary for occupational health and safety specialists is $83,910, providing a strong baseline for earnings in this career. Salaries can vary by location, with several states and metro areas offering higher median pay. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all report median salaries above $95,000, with California at $102,840 and Massachusetts at $103,970. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $128,980, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $126,860 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $109,170. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also exceed the national median. These figures show that location choices can significantly influence earning potential, especially in specific metro areas with higher median pay.
Occupational health and safety specialists have a national employment base of about 132,000 jobs, indicating a well-established field. Projected employment growth of 12.5% points to a positive long-term outlook. In addition, there are an estimated 15,000 annual openings, which can come from a mix of new positions and turnover in existing roles. This combination of growth and openings suggests that people entering the field or advancing within it can expect ongoing opportunities over time. The consistent projected growth rate of 12.5% also appears across the top states and metro areas listed, reinforcing the idea that demand is expected to increase in multiple regions. For individuals who value career stability and the ability to move between employers or locations, the national figures and projected growth support this occupation as a viable long-range career path.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for occupational health and safety specialists. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington rank highly by opportunity score. California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $102,840, and employment of 16,230, indicating both strong pay and a large employment base. Massachusetts and New York follow closely in opportunity score (65.87 and 65.78), with median salaries of $103,970 and $95,720 and employment of 3,390 and 6,840, respectively. Colorado and Washington also show notable opportunity scores above 56 and median salaries above $101,000. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with opportunity scores above 77, combining high salaries with measurable employment. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, each offering higher median salaries than the national median. Together, these locations provide multiple strong regional choices for specialists.
The typical education requirement for occupational health and safety specialists is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education aligns with the occupation’s emphasis on scientific understanding and analytical thinking. Foundational skills in science and mathematics support the technical aspects of the work. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, help professionals interpret information and make informed judgments. Strong writing and reading skills are also important, as is proficiency with computers and information technology. In many roles, leadership, project management, and interpersonal skills matter because specialists often work with others and coordinate activities. Effective speaking and listening skills further support communication with a range of stakeholders. Individuals considering this career can use the listed skills as a guide for what to develop during a bachelor’s program and early work experience, helping them align their education and training with the core demands of the occupation.
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