Architecture & Engineering
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Also called: Health and Safety Specialist, Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Safety Engineer, Product Safety and Standards Engineer
US median pay
$115,160
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.4%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
1,200
22,300 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.
What they do day to day
- Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
- Conduct research to evaluate safety levels for products.
- Evaluate product designs for safety.
- Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
- Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
- Recommend procedures for detection, prevention, and elimination of physical, chemical, or other product hazards.
- Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
- Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
- Evaluate adequacy of actions taken to correct health inspection violations.
- Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety, such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Systems Analysis3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Systems Evaluation3.5/5
- Instructing3.4/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
Knowledge
- English Language3.9/5
- Engineering and Technology3.8/5
- Administration and Management3.7/5
- Public Safety and Security3.7/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Law and Government3.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.