Salary guide
Safety Engineer Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What safety engineers earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median safety engineer salary in the U.S. is $115,160 per year, or $55.36 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $68,420, while the top 10% earned more than $171,250.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Safety Engineer pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,420 | $32.89 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $90,930 | $43.72 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $115,160 | $55.37 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $142,980 | $68.74 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $171,250 | $82.33 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $90,930 | $115,160 | $142,980 |
| Per month | $7,578 | $9,597 | $11,915 |
| Every two weeks | $3,497 | $4,429 | $5,499 |
| Per week | $1,749 | $2,215 | $2,750 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects safety engineer pay
- Required credentials (HAZWOPER, CSP, state inspector or operator licenses)
- Government versus private-sector employment
- Hazard level and emergency-response duties
- Industry (construction, energy, chemical and federal contracting)
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a safety engineer
- Get credentialed: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Professional Engineer (PE) license, Associate Safety Professional (ASP).
- Build specialty experience: Lead analyses and design controls.
- Move up: roles such as senior or process safety engineer and ehs director or consultant typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Safety Engineer pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of safety engineers to change by +5.4% from 2025–35, faster than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,200 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 17-2111 (“Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Safety Engineer salary FAQ
How much does a safety engineer make per hour?
The median hourly wage for safety engineers was $55.36 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $32.89 and the top 10% earned about $82.33 or more.
How much does a safety engineer make a month?
At the median annual wage of $115,160, that works out to about $9,597 per month before taxes, or about $4,429 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a safety engineer?
New safety engineers often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $68,420 and the 25th percentile was $90,930 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can safety engineers earn more?
Common ways include earning Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Professional Engineer (PE) license, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as senior or process safety engineer.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 17-2111 (Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.