Occupational Safety Specialist
Find workplace hazards, train workers and keep companies compliant with OSHA.
- $90,150
- 2–4 years
Safety & Environmental career
Safety Technician
Also called: Occupational Health and Safety Technician · Safety Coordinator · EHS Technician · Safety Assistant
What safety technicians do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a safety technician do?
Occupational health and safety technicians inspect workplaces, test for hazards such as noise and air contaminants, help deliver safety training and support safety specialists in preventing injuries and illness. The median pay is $61,560 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 6–12 months, and employment is projected to grow +19.4% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$61,560$29.59/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+19.4%2025–35, much faster than average
- Openings per year3,800Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to train6–12 monthsTypical program length
- U.S. jobs31,200Employment, 2025
What safety technicians do
Safety technicians are the hands-on side of workplace safety. They walk job sites and plants looking for hazards, check that guards, PPE and procedures are in place, take air, noise and other measurements, help investigate incidents and keep training and inspection records current. They often work with safety specialists and industrial hygienists.
Many safety technicians enter from the trades, manufacturing or the military with OSHA training and on-the-job experience. Credentials such as the OHST, CHST or STS from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals raise pay and responsibility. It is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the safety field.
Typical duties
- Conduct workplace and job site safety inspections
- Measure noise, air contaminants and other exposures
- Help deliver safety training and toolbox talks
- Investigate incidents and near-misses
- Maintain safety records and OSHA logs
- Check PPE, guards and safety equipment
- Recommend corrective actions and track follow-up
Work environment and schedule
Safety technicians work on construction sites, in manufacturing plants, warehouses, utilities and offices. They spend much of the day walking work areas in PPE, in all weather on outdoor sites.
Schedule: Most work full-time days, with early starts on construction sites and some off-shift visits to check night crews.
A day in the life
- Lead a toolbox talk on trenching safety for the construction crews.
- Inspect excavations, scaffolds and ladders on the job site.
- Set up noise dosimeters on equipment operators.
- Help investigate a near-miss involving a forklift and a pedestrian.
See a full day in the life of a safety technician →
Safety Technician salary
Half of safety technicians earned more than $61,560 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $46,280 for the lowest 10% to $100,160 for the top 10%.
Full safety technician pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a safety technician
- Get work experience
- Complete OSHA 30
- Take safety coursework
- Earn a BCSP credential
- Advance
A high school diploma plus safety training and experience is typical. Many technicians complete OSHA 30, community college safety courses or an associate degree in occupational safety.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a safety technician →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Hazard recognition
- OSHA standards
- Exposure monitoring
- Incident investigation
- Safety training delivery
People skills
- Communication
- Diplomacy
- Observation
- Integrity
All safety technician skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fast-growing field
- Meaningful work preventing injuries
- Entry point from the trades without a degree
- Clear path to safety specialist roles
Cons
- Enforcing rules can make you unpopular
- Exposure to the hazards you inspect
- Lots of documentation
- Responsibility when incidents happen
Certifications and licenses
- Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST): BCSP credential for safety technicians.
- Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST): BCSP credential for construction safety.
- Safety Trained Supervisor (STS): BCSP credential for supervisors with safety duties.
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction or General Industry: Comprehensive OSHA safety training.
Career path
- Safety Assistant or Technician: Inspect sites and keep records.
- Safety Coordinator: Run training and programs at a site.
- Safety Specialist: Design programs and lead investigations.
- EHS Manager: Lead safety for a company or region.
Learn the job before day one
Our Safety Technician training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as conduct a job site safety inspection and measure noise exposure with a dosimeter, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
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- $49,450
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Safety Engineer
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Compare: Safety Technician vs. Safety Specialist · Safety Technician vs. Hazmat Technician · Safety Technician vs. Safety Engineer · Safety Technician vs. Building Inspector
Safety Technician FAQ
Do safety technicians need a degree?
Not usually. Experience, OSHA training and BCSP credentials are common paths.
What’s the difference between a safety technician and a safety specialist?
Technicians focus on inspections, monitoring and records; specialists design programs and often have degrees.
Is safety a growing field?
Yes. BLS projects much faster than average growth.
How much does a safety technician make?
The median annual wage for safety technicians was $61,560 ($29.59 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $46,280 and the highest 10% earned more than $100,160.
How long does it take to become a safety technician?
Most people need about 6–12 months of training. A high school diploma plus safety training and experience is typical. Many technicians complete OSHA 30, community college safety courses or an associate degree in occupational safety.
Do you need a degree to be a safety technician?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
More safety technician questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 19-5012 (Occupational health and safety technicians).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Occupational health and safety technicians (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.