How to become a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineer or Inspector
Official title: Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Also called: Health and Safety Specialist, Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Safety Engineer, Product Safety and Standards Engineer, Product Safety Consultant, Product Safety Engineer, Safety and Health Consultant, Safety Engineer, Service Loss Control Consultant, System Safety Engineer
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.
Main tasks
- Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
- Conduct research to evaluate safety levels for products.
- Evaluate product designs for safety.
- Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
- Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
- Recommend procedures for detection, prevention, and elimination of physical, chemical, or other product hazards.
- Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
- Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
How to become one
Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Completing an internship or cooperative-education program may be helpful for gaining hands-on experience while in school.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
- College: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $115,160 a year The middle half earn $90,930 to $142,980.
- About 22,300 people work in this job now, and about 23,500 are projected by 2035. (+5.4%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Related jobs
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
- Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
- Validation Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineer or Inspector?
Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Completing an internship or cooperative-education program may be helpful for gaining hands-on experience while in school.
How much does a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineer or Inspector earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $115,160 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $90,930 to $142,980.
Is a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineer or Inspector a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 22,300 to about 23,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineer or Inspector?
Usually. 77% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineer or Inspector?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.