Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $126,860 a year — 41% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,757 take-home, or $7,396 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational health and safety specialist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,180
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,865
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,839
- California income tax$7,568
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,649
- Take-home pay$88,757
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,590 | $36.82 | $58,800 | $4,900 |
| 25th percentile | $87,300 | $41.97 | $65,221 | $5,435 |
| Median (50th) | $126,860 | $60.99 | $88,757 | $7,396 |
| 75th percentile | $161,960 | $77.87 | $109,027 | $9,086 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $194,920 | $93.71 | $128,708 | $10,726 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,860 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational health and safety specialist's $88,757 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,771 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist jobs are about as common in San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for occupational health and safety specialists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,860 | $88,757 | $76,771 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $105,960 | $78,295 | $72,317 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $82,910 | $67,157 | $68,091 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $102,610 | $74,369 | $65,485 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $96,320 | $71,948 | $63,918 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $81,000 | $65,814 | $63,841 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: occupational health and safety specialists
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)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $102,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational health and safety specialist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median occupational health and safety specialist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $126,860 a year, or about $60.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $87,300 and $161,960.
What is a occupational health and safety specialist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $126,860 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $88,757 a year ($7,396 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,218 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a occupational health and safety specialist?
Pay here is 41% above the national median of $90,150. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,771 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational health and safety specialist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median occupational health and safety specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $160,180
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $138,160
- Biological Technician — $95,220