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.

$78,900
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+12% projected 2024โ€“2034

What They Do

Occupational health and safety specialists work to protect employees from workplace hazards by identifying risks and developing strategies to prevent injuries and illnesses. They conduct thorough inspections of facilities, examining everything from machinery and equipment to chemical storage and ventilation systems. These professionals investigate accidents when they occur, documenting conditions and interviewing witnesses to determine root causes and prevent future incidents. They review company policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations, often serving as the primary liaison between their organization and regulatory agencies like OSHA.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians(masters)California State University-Dominguez Hills, CA
$120,947
Public Health(doctoral)University of California-Los Angeles, CA
$115,362
Public Health(doctoral)University of Illinois Chicago, IL
$114,438
Public Health(masters)Touro University California, CA
$111,615
Public Health(masters)Montana Technological University, MT
$108,776
Public Health(masters)Harvard University, MA
$108,479
Public Health(doctoral)University of South Carolina-Columbia, SC
$105,588
Public Health(doctoral)Harvard University, MA
$104,766
Public Health(doctoral)University of South Florida, FL
$103,531
Public Health(bachelors)The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX
$99,671
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians(masters)Murray State University, KY
$99,473
Public Health(doctoral)Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, FL
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Georgetown University, DC
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Emory University, GA
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Colorado State University-Fort Collins, CO
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)D'Youville University, NY
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, GA
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)American InterContinental University System, AZ
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Florida International University, FL
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Drexel University, PA
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)East Carolina University, NC
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Clemson University, SC
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Boston University, MA
$96,297
Public Health(doctoral)Claremont Graduate University, CA
$96,297

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