Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: Job Description
Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
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What Tasks Do Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of occupational health and safety technicians cover:
- Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
- Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
- Train workers in safety procedures related to green jobs, such as the use of fall protection devices or maintenance of proper ventilation during wind turbine construction.
- Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
- Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
- Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.
- Inspect fire suppression systems or portable fire systems to ensure proper working order.
- Verify availability or monitor use of safety equipment, such as hearing protection or respirators.
What Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Need to Know
Effective occupational health and safety technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Advisory Industrial Hygienist
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
- Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
- Construction Safety Consultant
- Consumer Safety Technician (Consumer Safety Tech)
- EHS Advisor (Environmental, Health, and Safety Advisor)
- EHS Coordinator (Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator)
- Environmental Health Technologist
Job Outlook
There are about 50,056 occupational health and safety technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +9.1% over the projection horizon.
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,647 |
| Hourly median | $23.39 |
| 10th percentile | $35,288 |
| 25th percentile | $41,968 |
| 75th percentile | $55,327 |
| 90th percentile | $62,007 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $80,270 |
| Rhode Island | $79,530 |
| Alaska | $76,290 |
| New Mexico | $75,920 |
| Minnesota | $73,970 |
| Oregon | $68,640 |
| Colorado | $66,560 |
| Illinois | $66,000 |
| New Jersey | $65,340 |
| Massachusetts | $65,010 |
| Idaho | $64,950 |
| Wyoming | $64,650 |
| Michigan | $64,220 |
| Wisconsin | $63,790 |
| Nebraska | $63,720 |
| Utah | $63,510 |
| Nevada | $62,910 |
| Arizona | $62,620 |
| New York | $62,290 |
| Connecticut | $61,790 |
| Maryland | $61,170 |
| District of Columbia | $61,030 |
| Maine | $60,670 |
| Kentucky | $60,410 |
| Ohio | $60,390 |
| Missouri | $60,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,050 |
| Montana | $59,940 |
| Delaware | $59,770 |
| Virginia | $59,340 |
| New Hampshire | $59,330 |
| Indiana | $58,440 |
| Mississippi | $58,220 |
| Georgia | $58,090 |
| California | $57,990 |
| North Carolina | $57,610 |
| West Virginia | $57,500 |
| Florida | $56,360 |
| Vermont | $56,160 |
| Iowa | $56,070 |
| South Carolina | $55,270 |
| Oklahoma | $53,420 |
| North Dakota | $52,790 |
| Alabama | $52,510 |
| Kansas | $52,080 |
| Louisiana | $52,020 |
| Tennessee | $51,210 |
| Texas | $49,690 |
| Arkansas | $49,090 |
| Guam | $39,950 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,850 |
Where Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Earn the Most
Compensation for occupational health and safety technicians differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $65,188 | 3.0% | 0.76 |
| New England | $63,337 | 3.0% | 0.72 |
| Great Lakes | $62,413 | 19.3% | 1.64 |
| Far Western US | $62,033 | 16.3% | 1.05 |
| Middle Atlantic | $61,840 | 10.3% | 0.79 |
| Plains States | $59,780 | 5.5% | 1.01 |
| Southeast | $55,828 | 22.0% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $52,399 | 20.0% | 1.73 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $89,490 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $86,190 | 200 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | NE | $82,930 | 60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $80,810 | 210 |
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $77,130 | 270 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $76,720 | 80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $73,970 | 160 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $72,820 | 1,170 |
Which Industries Hire Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
The bulk of occupational health and safety technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 9,010 | $57,400 |
| Manufacturing | 5,400 | $65,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4,580 | $49,140 |
| Construction | 2,580 | $72,110 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,710 | $50,900 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 970 | $58,690 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 920 | $64,780 |
| Educational Services | 880 | $62,160 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of occupational health and safety technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Contact With Others
How to Become Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Most occupational health and safety technicians positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Emergency Management Directors (Supplemental)
- Compliance Managers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Primary-Short)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Primary-Short)
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future occupational health and safety technicians typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
4 programs across 2 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-5012.00 (Occupational Health and Safety Technicians).
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