Safety & Environmental career

Occupational Safety Specialist

Also called: Safety Specialist · EHS Specialist · Safety Coordinator · Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

What occupational safety specialists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does an occupational safety specialist do?

Occupational safety specialists inspect workplaces, identify hazards, develop safety programs, train employees, investigate incidents and help employers comply with OSHA and other regulations so workers go home safe. The median pay is $90,150 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2–4 years, and employment is projected to grow +18.5% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $90,150
    $43.34/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +18.5%
    2025–35, much faster than average
  • Openings per year
    17,100
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Bachelor's degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    2–4 years
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    143,100
    Employment, 2025

What occupational safety specialists do

Safety specialists work across construction, manufacturing, energy, healthcare, logistics and government. They walk sites to spot hazards, conduct job hazard analyses, write and audit safety programs, deliver training, track injury data and lead incident investigations that fix root causes rather than blame people.

BLS lists a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or a related field as the typical entry path, though many people enter from the trades with safety training and experience. Credentials from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) (such as the ASP, CSP and CHST) strongly boost pay and credibility.

Typical duties

  • Inspect workplaces and equipment for hazards and compliance
  • Conduct job hazard analyses and recommend controls
  • Develop and update written safety programs and procedures
  • Train employees on safety topics and regulatory requirements
  • Investigate incidents and near-misses and track corrective actions
  • Maintain OSHA injury and illness records and safety metrics
  • Coordinate with regulators, insurers and management

Work environment and schedule

Safety specialists split time between offices and field sites such as construction projects, plants, warehouses and hospitals. Field work can involve exposure to the same hazards workers face, so specialists wear PPE and may travel among sites.

Schedule: Usually full-time, with early starts on construction sites. Some roles require travel, evening training sessions or on-call response to incidents.

A day in the life

  1. Lead a toolbox talk on heat illness prevention for a construction crew.
  2. Walk the site: check fall protection, scaffolds, excavations and housekeeping, and coach workers on the spot.
  3. Review a job hazard analysis for a new crane lift with the superintendent.
  4. Investigate a near-miss involving a forklift and a pedestrian; interview witnesses and identify root causes.

See a full day in the life of an occupational safety specialist →

Occupational Safety Specialist salary

Half of occupational safety specialists earned more than $90,150 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $55,000 for the lowest 10% to $134,950 for the top 10%.

Full occupational safety specialist pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become an occupational safety specialist

  1. Build a foundation
  2. Get safety training
  3. Gain field experience
  4. Earn credentials
  5. Advance

A bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental health, industrial hygiene or a related field is typical. Some specialists enter from the trades with an associate degree or extensive safety training and experience.

Step-by-step guide to becoming an occupational safety specialist →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926)
  • Hazard recognition and job hazard analysis
  • Incident investigation and root cause analysis
  • Safety training delivery
  • Injury recordkeeping and metrics

People skills

  • Persuasive communication
  • Coaching and teaching
  • Integrity
  • Calm under pressure

All occupational safety specialist skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Meaningful work protecting people’s lives
  • Strong pay and much faster than average growth
  • Needed in nearly every industry
  • Clear credential path (ASP, CSP)

Cons

  • Can be stressful after serious incidents
  • Sometimes seen as “the safety police”
  • Lots of documentation and regulations
  • Field work in all conditions

Certifications and licenses

  • ASP and CSP (BCSP): Associate Safety Professional and Certified Safety Professional: top credentials in the field.
  • CHST and OHST (BCSP): Construction Health and Safety Technician and Occupational Health and Safety Technologist.
  • OSHA 30 / OSHA 500 or 510: Outreach training, including trainer courses to teach OSHA 10 and 30.
  • CIH: Certified Industrial Hygienist, for specialists focused on chemical, noise and exposure hazards.

Career path

  1. Safety Coordinator or Technician: Support inspections, training and recordkeeping.
  2. Safety Specialist: Run programs and investigations for a site.
  3. Safety Manager: Lead safety for multiple sites or a business unit.
  4. EHS Director: Set corporate safety strategy and culture.

Learn the job before day one

Our Occupational Safety Specialist training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as conduct a job hazard analysis and calculate a total recordable incident rate (TRIR), safety and how to land your first job.

View Occupational Safety Specialist trainingIs this career right for me?

Hazardous Materials Technician

Safely remove and clean up asbestos, lead, chemicals and other hazardous materials.

  • $49,450
  • 1–4 weeks of required training

Environmental Technician

Collect and test air, water and soil samples to monitor pollution and protect health.

  • $55,090
  • About 2 years

Compare: Safety Specialist vs. Hazmat Technician · Safety Specialist vs. Building Inspector · Safety Specialist vs. Environmental Technician · Safety Specialist vs. HR Specialist

Occupational Safety Specialist FAQ

Do you need a degree to be a safety specialist?

Many employers prefer a bachelor’s degree, but people with trade experience, OSHA 30 and credentials such as the CHST or OHST often become safety coordinators.

What is the most valuable safety certification?

The Certified Safety Professional (CSP) from BCSP is widely considered the top general credential, usually after earning the ASP.

Is occupational safety a growing field?

Yes. BLS projects 18.5% employment growth for occupational health and safety specialists from 2025 to 2035.

How much does an occupational safety specialist make?

The median annual wage for occupational safety specialists was $90,150 ($43.34 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $55,000 and the highest 10% earned more than $134,950.

How long does it take to become an occupational safety specialist?

Most people need about 2–4 years of training. A bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental health, industrial hygiene or a related field is typical. Some specialists enter from the trades with an associate degree or extensive safety training and experience.

Do you need a degree to be an occupational safety specialist?

Usually. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, but many safety coordinators enter from the trades with safety training, OSHA 30 and experience, then add credentials such as the OHST, CHST or ASP.

More occupational safety specialist questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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