Career comparison
Compliance Officer vs. Occupational Safety Specialist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Occupational safety specialists earn more at the median ($90,150 vs. $80,730), while compliance officers usually get to work faster (Moderate on-the-job training of training). Compliance officers make sure an organization follows the laws and rules that apply to it. Occupational safety specialists find workplace hazards, train workers and keep companies compliant with OSHA.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Compliance Officer | Occupational Safety Specialist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $80,730 ($38.81/hr) | $90,150 ($43.34/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $48,220 – $133,720 | $55,000 – $134,950 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.8% (about as fast as average) | +18.5% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 32,700 | 17,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Moderate on-the-job training | 2–4 years |
| Key credential | CCEP | ASP and CSP (BCSP) |
| Work setting | Compliance officers work in offices, with some site visits.. | Safety specialists split time between offices and field sites such as construction projects, plants, warehouses and hospitals. |
What each job does
Compliance Officer
- Monitor laws and regulations
- Write policies and procedures
- Train employees
- Audit operations
- Investigate concerns
Occupational Safety Specialist
- 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
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high responsibility and high-pay. They sit in different fields, business & office and safety & environmental, but share transferable skills such as integrity and persuasive communication.
Which should you choose?
Choose compliance officer if…
- I like rules and structure
- I’m detail-oriented
- I value ethics
Choose occupational safety specialist if…
- I want to protect people from getting hurt
- I’m comfortable speaking up when something is unsafe
- I like teaching and coaching others
Still torn? Take the Compliance Officer fit quiz and the Occupational Safety Specialist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, compliance officer or occupational safety specialist?
Occupational Safety Specialists earn more at the median: $90,150 versus $80,730 for compliance officers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Compliance Officers typically train faster (Moderate on-the-job training) than occupational safety specialists (2–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects occupational safety specialists to grow +18.5% from 2025–35, compared with +3.8% for compliance officers.