Occupational Health & Safety Specialists

Also Called: Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Environmental Health and Safety Officer, Industrial Hygienist, Safety Specialist

Bachelor's Degree

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$49,550

Entry Salary

Average

Job outlook

What Occupational Health & Safety Specialists do

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.

  • Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
  • 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.
Industry Areas:

Homeland Security • Renewable Resources and Energy

Training Program Areas:

OCT-Only Homeland Security • OCT-Only Renewable Resources & Energy • Petroleum Technician • Security & Protective Services • Wastewater Treatment

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Electronic Mail
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Telephone
  • Work With Work Group or Team

Tools

  • Air samplers or collectors
  • Gas detector tubes
  • Air sampling pumps
  • Liquid leak detectors
  • Gas detectors

Technology

Data base user interface and query software
EcoLogic ADAM Indoor Air Quality and Analytical Data Management
Microsoft Access
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Compliance software
ESS Compliance Suite
Primatech AUDITWorks

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension

Knowledge

Arts and Humanities
English language
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Math and Science
chemistry
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Safety and Government
public safety and security

Education

  • 73% Bachelor's degree
  • 18% Master's degree
  • 5% Post-secondary certificate

Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Animal Control Workers

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, & Illustrators

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Police Identification & Records Officers

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

 Job Training Match

Occupational Health & Safety Specialists Currently Selected

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Epidemiologists

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Adelphi University

    Garden City, NY

  • Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management

    Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

Military

The Military offers exciting career opportunities that align with your interests. Click here to explore military careers and find a recruiter near you.

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Investigative (Thinker)

Work Styles

  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Concern for Others

Values

  • Support
  • Working Conditions
  • Achievement

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Visual Understanding
  • Math

This is what Occupational Health & Safety Specialists across the country typically make.

$23.82 / hour
$49,550 /year

Entry Level

$39.01 / hour
$81,140 /year

Median Level

$61.56 / hour
$128,040 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Average

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

Search Jobs