How to become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
Official title: Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
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, Safety Consultant, Safety Specialist
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.
Main 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.
How to become one
Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety or a related field. Occupational health and safety technicians typically need at least a high school diploma to enter the occupation, and they receive training on the job.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Mine Safety and Health Inspector (Limited).
- Apprenticeship: Safety Inspector/Technician.
- College: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 12 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $90,150 a year The middle half earn $69,560 to $111,690.
- About 143,100 people work in this job now, and about 169,600 are projected by 2035. (+18.5%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist?
Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety or a related field. Occupational health and safety technicians typically need at least a high school diploma to enter the occupation, and they receive training on the job.
How much does an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $90,150 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $69,560 to $111,690.
Is an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 19% by 2035, from about 143,100 to about 169,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist?
Not always. 52% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Health & Public Health degrees; Mine Safety and Health Inspector (Limited).
Will AI change the work of an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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.