How to become a Work Health and Safety Manager
Also called: Occupational Health and Safety Manager, WHS Manager
Leads the development and implementation of work health and safety programs, and ensures compliance with related statutory requirements.
Main tasks
- Manages the operations of the work health and safety business unit
- Manages work health and safety budgets
- Manages organisational response to any injury and compliance investigations
- Sets, monitors, reviews and evaluates work health and safety management strategies, policies and plans
- Oversees the organisation's work health and safety policies and practices to ensure compliance with legal requirements
- Advocates for work health and safety in organisational policy
Ways in
- University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
- TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety (BSB60619); Diploma of Work Health and Safety (BSB51319); Certificate IV in Rail Safety Management (TLI42422); Advanced Diploma of Human Resource Management (BSB60320); Certificate IV in Personal Injury Management (FNS42120); Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) (CPC50320)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $143,936 a year
- About 92,900 people work in this job group now, and about 113,100 are projected by 2035. (+21.8%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Related jobs
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Regulatory Affairs Manager
- Corporate Services Manager
- Finance Manager
- Human Resources Manager
- Policy and Planning Manager
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Work Health and Safety Manager?
Ways in include: Health & Public Health degrees; Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety; Diploma of Work Health and Safety.
How much does a Work Health and Safety Manager earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $143,936 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Work Health and Safety Manager a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 22% by 2035, from about 92,900 to about 113,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Work Health and Safety Manager?
Not always. 59% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Health & Public Health degrees; Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety; Diploma of Work Health and Safety.
Will AI change the work of a Work Health and Safety Manager?
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