Science
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.
Median pay
$90,150
Growth to 2035
+19%
much faster than average
Openings a year
17,100
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Occupational health and safety specialists
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to occupational health and safety specialists
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Occupational health and safety specialists: 48% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
- Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
- Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
- Collaborate with engineers or physicians to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
- Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
Also called: Chemical Hygiene Officer · EHS Officer (Environmental Health and Safety Officer) · Health and Safety Analyst · Industrial Hygiene Consultant · Industrial Hygienist · Industrial Hygienist Consultant · OHS Consultant (Occupational Health and Safety Consultant) · Risk Control Consultant
Outlook and AI
Occupational health and safety specialists held 143,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 169,600 by 2035 (+19%, much faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share increases as employers increasingly prioritize worker health and safety. This will be largely driven by an increased focus on employee well-being, the introduction of new technologies in the workplace, and a greater prevalence of climate-related hazards.
Compare with
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Compliance officer
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Construction and building inspectors
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Environmental engineer
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Business operations specialists, all other
- Occupational health and safety specialists vs. Facilities manager