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Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Iowa

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Iowa

Considering working as an Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Iowa? Below are the key facts. Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.

What do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Make in Iowa?

For a occupational health and safety specialists working in Iowa, the median annual wage is $79,560 per year (or roughly $38.25/hour).Annual wages span from $50,870 at the 10th percentile to $114,390 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $50,870 $24.46
25th percentile $65,680 $31.58
Median (50th) $79,560 $38.25
75th percentile $96,850 $46.56
90th percentile $114,390 $55.00
Salary ranges for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Iowa

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Iowa relative to the national average — is 0.91.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, occupational health and safety specialists earn a median of $105,544 per year ($50.74/hour), below the Iowa median.

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists earnings in Iowa vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 70,623 occupational health and safety specialists across the United States. In Iowa alone, approximately 1,190 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 1,700 occupational health and safety specialists.

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Iowa vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Top Iowa Metros for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

These are the Iowa metros with the most occupational health and safety specialists in Iowa.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 270 $82,830
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 130 $94,200
Cedar Rapids, IA 100 $80,320
Ames, IA 70 $79,410
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD 60 $88,290
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 60 $82,920
Iowa City, IA 50 $80,230
Dubuque, IA 30 $79,560

Top States for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Employment

These states have the highest employment of occupational health and safety specialists work.

State Number Employed
Texas 17,180
California 14,600
Ohio 5,960
Florida 5,920
New York 5,520
Pennsylvania 4,740
North Carolina 4,070
Washington 3,820
Virginia 3,820
Massachusetts 3,380
Indiana 3,250
Colorado 3,100
Michigan 3,070
Arizona 3,020
Georgia 2,970
New Jersey 2,840
Tennessee 2,470
Minnesota 2,390
Kentucky 2,300
Illinois 2,280

Highest-Paying States for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Where occupational health and safety specialists earn the most: occupational health and safety specialists.

State Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia $115,710
California $99,530
Washington $98,300
Rhode Island $98,240
Illinois $96,570
Colorado $96,310
Massachusetts $96,250
Minnesota $93,640
Wyoming $93,010
New Hampshire $92,220

Skills

Top occupational health and safety specialists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  4.0 / 5
0
5
Writing  4.0 / 5
0
5
Speaking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.8 / 5
0
5
Systems Analysis  3.8 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

English Language  4.0 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  3.9 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.8 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.8 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  3.7 / 5
0
5
Engineering and Technology  3.6 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for occupational health and safety specialists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Problem Sensitivity  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, occupational health and safety specialists typically:

  • Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
  • Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
  • Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
  • Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
  • Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
  • Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
  • Collaborate with engineers or physicians to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment.
  • Investigate the adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, or other conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, or performance.
  • Conduct safety training or education programs and demonstrate the use of safety equipment.
  • Investigate health-related complaints and inspect facilities to ensure that they comply with public health legislation and regulations.
  • Write reports.
  • Inspect specified areas to ensure the presence of fire prevention equipment, safety equipment, or first-aid supplies.

Work Activities

  • Getting Information
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Training and Teaching Others
  • Working with Computers
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access, Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

  • Quality Control Technology
  • Public Health
  • Pharmacology & Toxicology

Related occupations to occupational health and safety specialists include:

Also Known As

Analysis Safety Inspector, Cause Analyst, Certified Indoor Environmentalist, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Chemical Hygiene Officer, Construction Safety Manager, Consumer Safety Inspector, Dining Service Inspector, EHS Officer (Environmental Health and Safety Officer), EHS Specialist (Environmental Health and Safety Specialist), Environmental Health Inspector, Environmental Health Sanitarian, Environmental Health Technologist, Environmental Protection Inspector, Environmental Protection Officer.

References

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