How to become a Safety Inspector
Inspects machines, equipment, working conditions and public places to ensure compliance with government and industry standards and regulations in relation to work health and safety.
Main tasks
- Examines equipment specifications, and inspects and tests machines, equipment and clothing to monitor and enforce compliance with safety standards and serviceability
- Inspects factories and other work sites to ensure compliance with government and industry standards and regulations
- Investigates workplace accidents, incidents and complaints related to workplace health and safety
- Assists in conducting safety meetings and campaigns, and organising training in general safety principles, in keeping with regulations
- Advises organisations on ways to comply with work health and safety legislative and regulatory requirements
- May issue notices to enforce immediate compliance under work health and safety legislation and if necessary, impose penalties or recommend prosecutions for breaches
Ways in
- University: Architecture & Built Environment degrees, Offered by 24 universities in Australia
- TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety (BSB60619); Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety (BSB41419); Diploma of Work Health and Safety (BSB51319); Certificate IV in Rail Safety Investigation (TLI40822); Certificate IV in Rail Safety Management (TLI42422); Certificate III in Fire Protection Control (UEE31020); Certificate III in Work Health and Safety (BSB30719); Certificate IV in ESI Generation (UEP40122)
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $123,864 a year
- About 7,400 people work in this job group now, and about 8,200 are projected by 2035. (+10.7%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Safety Inspector?
Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety; Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
How much does a Safety Inspector earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $123,864 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Safety Inspector a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 7,400 to about 8,200 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Safety Inspector?
Not always. 33% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety; Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
Will AI change the work of a Safety Inspector?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04