Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists earn a median $90,150 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
What occupational health and safety specialists do
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 education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.5% (much faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 17,100
Employment of occupational health and safety specialists is projected to grow 18.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 17,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,003
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,589
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,307
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$72,251
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,000 | $26.44 | $46,373 |
| 25th percentile | $69,560 | $33.44 | $57,765 |
| Median (50th) | $90,150 | $43.34 | $72,251 |
| 75th percentile | $111,690 | $53.70 | $87,404 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,950 | $64.88 | $103,504 |
Best cities for occupational health and safety specialists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,860 | $88,757 | $76,771 | 2,550 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $105,960 | $78,295 | $72,317 | 2,720 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $82,910 | $67,157 | $68,091 | 5,650 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $102,610 | $74,369 | $65,485 | 5,550 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $96,320 | $71,948 | $63,918 | 6,020 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $81,000 | $65,814 | $63,841 | 3,660 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $126,860
- Boston, MA — $105,960
- Los Angeles, CA — $102,610
- New York, NY — $96,320
- Houston, TX — $82,910
- Dallas, TX — $81,000
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,530 | −3.6% | $80,780 | $68,000 – $156,750 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $103,970 | +8.0% | $76,994 | $68,490 – $153,770 | 3,390 |
| Washington | $102,920 | +4.7% | $81,234 | $69,470 – $148,330 | 3,570 |
| California | $102,840 | +3.3% | $74,506 | $59,760 – $161,300 | 16,230 |
| Rhode Island | $101,740 | +3.6% | $77,173 | $66,800 – $149,350 | 200 |
| Colorado | $101,400 | +5.3% | $76,412 | $64,140 – $153,030 | 3,080 |
| New Hampshire | $101,260 | +9.8% | $80,066 | $61,590 – $152,790 | 610 |
| Alaska | $99,270 | +8.3% | $78,666 | $55,440 – $141,950 | 370 |
| Illinois | $98,270 | +1.8% | $73,243 | $61,160 – $137,000 | 2,900 |
| Maine | $97,640 | +14.4% | $72,034 | $58,580 – $118,280 | 600 |
| Minnesota | $96,990 | +3.6% | $71,991 | $67,990 – $129,810 | 2,460 |
| Connecticut | $96,110 | +5.9% | $72,732 | $63,230 – $146,810 | 1,090 |
| New York | $95,720 | +9.3% | $71,562 | $60,320 – $144,100 | 6,840 |
| Oregon | $95,240 | +15.2% | $68,327 | $61,500 – $125,190 | 1,820 |
| Hawaii | $94,840 | +5.8% | $69,872 | $60,600 – $123,460 | 640 |
| Nevada | $94,360 | +10.3% | $75,212 | $61,700 – $131,960 | 1,150 |
| Wyoming | $94,030 | +1.1% | $74,980 | $61,820 – $133,900 | 580 |
| North Dakota | $93,250 | +11.0% | $73,872 | $63,660 – $130,410 | 540 |
| Maryland | $91,820 | +12.0% | $69,428 | $52,980 – $141,360 | 2,160 |
| Ohio | $91,460 | +10.6% | $71,439 | $57,430 – $136,390 | 6,820 |
| Virginia | $90,800 | +11.2% | $68,301 | $56,180 – $138,350 | 3,910 |
| New Jersey | $90,610 | −0.8% | $68,992 | $54,580 – $128,490 | 3,830 |
| Utah | $90,200 | +3.7% | $69,193 | $52,560 – $128,960 | 1,230 |
| Louisiana | $89,560 | +11.3% | $69,535 | $60,260 – $132,410 | 2,380 |
| Arizona | $89,480 | +11.6% | $69,751 | $57,200 – $128,120 | 3,220 |
| Florida | $88,820 | +15.0% | $71,315 | $49,050 – $133,120 | 6,760 |
| South Dakota | $88,610 | +11.5% | $71,167 | $48,590 – $121,840 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $88,080 | +7.1% | $66,667 | $57,520 – $135,940 | 2,170 |
| Iowa | $87,830 | +10.4% | $67,933 | $59,080 – $126,480 | 1,310 |
| Vermont | $87,210 | +1.9% | $66,887 | $66,690 – $127,130 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,050 | +6.4% | $67,397 | $60,270 – $132,250 | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $86,920 | +10.2% | $66,480 | $58,150 – $135,660 | 730 |
| North Carolina | $86,650 | +5.5% | $66,840 | $59,550 – $129,710 | 4,670 |
| West Virginia | $86,560 | −0.4% | $66,488 | $42,130 – $128,850 | 1,020 |
| Kansas | $86,300 | +10.0% | $65,526 | $57,680 – $131,770 | 1,350 |
| Georgia | $85,450 | −2.1% | $65,132 | $51,670 – $132,420 | 3,220 |
| Wisconsin | $84,750 | +6.5% | $65,340 | $61,680 – $128,430 | 2,250 |
| New Mexico | $84,510 | +5.9% | $65,473 | $48,730 – $132,090 | 840 |
| Mississippi | $84,490 | +5.9% | $65,621 | $47,050 – $125,140 | 1,140 |
| Michigan | $84,080 | +7.4% | $64,658 | $55,610 – $125,350 | 3,350 |
| Nebraska | $83,990 | +6.1% | $64,975 | $56,290 – $115,100 | 630 |
| Kentucky | $83,730 | +9.6% | $64,921 | $49,040 – $129,120 | 2,480 |
| Indiana | $83,470 | +6.0% | $65,118 | $52,850 – $125,000 | 3,870 |
| Missouri | $83,090 | +3.2% | $64,316 | $43,330 – $130,110 | 2,660 |
| Alabama | $82,260 | +9.0% | $62,852 | $51,480 – $125,780 | 2,510 |
| Montana | $81,330 | +9.2% | $62,811 | $55,920 – $124,530 | 720 |
| Tennessee | $81,190 | +5.8% | $65,947 | $47,080 – $119,250 | 2,690 |
| Delaware | $81,120 | −5.5% | $61,885 | $54,990 – $133,320 | 600 |
| Oklahoma | $79,890 | −2.6% | $61,983 | $49,010 – $118,920 | 1,690 |
| Texas | $79,660 | +4.4% | $64,871 | $46,380 – $126,500 | 17,920 |
| Arkansas | $73,130 | +2.2% | $57,638 | $47,810 – $113,920 | 850 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Technician | $61,560 | High school diploma or equivalent | +19.4% |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $89,320 | Master's degree | +3.9% |
| Chemist | $91,240 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
| Food Scientist and Technologist | $88,720 | Bachelor's degree | +6.2% |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | Bachelor's degree | +6.2% |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | Master's degree | +18.7% |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | Bachelor's degree | +6.3% |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | Master's degree | +0.8% |
| Hydrologist | $96,600 | Bachelor's degree | +1.5% |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | Bachelor's degree | +6.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational health and safety specialist make?
The national median salary for occupational health and safety specialists is $90,150 a year ($43.34 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $55,000 and the top 10% earn over $134,950. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays occupational health and safety specialists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $111,530. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many occupational health and safety specialists are there in the U.S.?
About 140,610 people work as occupational health and safety specialists nationwide.