Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Occupational health and safety specialists (SOC 19-5011) employed 140,610 people in May 2025. The median pay is $90,150 a year ($43.34 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $55,000 and the highest-paid 10% more than $134,950. BLS projects its employment to change by +18.5% between 2025 and 2035 (about 17,100 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($111,530), Massachusetts ($103,970), Washington ($102,920). Most jobs: Texas (17,920), California (16,230), New York (6,840).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| 25th percentile | $69,560 | $33.44 |
| Median | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Mean | $93,860 | $45.12 |
| 75th percentile | $111,690 | $53.70 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $134,950 | $64.88 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 143,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 169,600 |
| Change in jobs | 26,400 |
| Percent change | +18.5% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 17,100 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2,510 | 1.31 | $82,260 | $51,480 | $125,780 | -9% | 16% |
| Alaska | 370 | 1.26 | $99,270 | $55,440 | $141,950 | +10% | 17% |
| Arizona | 3,220 | 1.10 | $89,480 | $57,200 | $128,120 | -1% | 22% |
| Arkansas | 850 | 0.72 | $73,130 | $47,810 | $113,920 | -19% | 16% |
| California | 16,230 | 0.99 | $102,840 | $59,760 | $161,300 | +14% | 25% |
| Colorado | 3,080 | 1.18 | $101,400 | $64,140 | $153,030 | +12% | 22% |
| Connecticut | 1,090 | 0.71 | $96,110 | $63,230 | $146,810 | +7% | 19% |
| Delaware | 600 | 1.37 | $81,120 | $54,990 | $133,320 | -10% | 23% |
| District of Columbia | 280 | 0.44 | $111,530 | $68,000 | $156,750 | +24% | 21% |
| Florida | 6,760 | 0.75 | $88,820 | $49,050 | $133,120 | -1% | 24% |
| Georgia | 3,220 | 0.73 | $85,450 | $51,670 | $132,420 | -5% | 21% |
| Hawaii | 640 | 1.13 | $94,840 | $60,600 | $123,460 | +5% | 25% |
| Idaho | 730 | 0.94 | $86,920 | $58,150 | $135,660 | -4% | 19% |
| Illinois | 2,900 | 0.53 | $98,270 | $61,160 | $137,000 | +9% | 16% |
| Indiana | 3,870 | 1.34 | $83,470 | $52,850 | $125,000 | -7% | 16% |
| Iowa | 1,310 | 0.93 | $87,830 | $59,080 | $126,480 | -3% | 13% |
| Kansas | 1,350 | 1.04 | $86,300 | $57,680 | $131,770 | -4% | 15% |
| Kentucky | 2,480 | 1.37 | $83,730 | $49,040 | $129,120 | -7% | 14% |
| Louisiana | 2,380 | 1.36 | $89,560 | $60,260 | $132,410 | -1% | 14% |
| Maine | 600 | 1.03 | $97,640 | $58,580 | $118,280 | +8% | 15% |
| Maryland | 2,160 | 0.86 | $91,820 | $52,980 | $141,360 | +2% | 22% |
| Massachusetts | 3,390 | 1.03 | $103,970 | $68,490 | $153,770 | +15% | 21% |
| Michigan | 3,350 | 0.84 | $84,080 | $55,610 | $125,350 | -7% | 17% |
| Minnesota | 2,460 | 0.92 | $96,990 | $67,990 | $129,810 | +8% | 16% |
| Mississippi | 1,140 | 1.08 | $84,490 | $47,050 | $125,140 | -6% | 14% |
| Missouri | 2,660 | 1.00 | $83,090 | $43,330 | $130,110 | -8% | 15% |
| Montana | 720 | 1.56 | $81,330 | $55,920 | $124,530 | -10% | 17% |
| Nebraska | 630 | 0.68 | $83,990 | $56,290 | $115,100 | -7% | 16% |
| Nevada | 1,150 | 0.82 | $94,360 | $61,700 | $131,960 | +5% | 22% |
| New Hampshire | 610 | 0.98 | $101,260 | $61,590 | $152,790 | +12% | 18% |
| New Jersey | 3,830 | 0.99 | $90,610 | $54,580 | $128,490 | +1% | 24% |
| New Mexico | 840 | 1.06 | $84,510 | $48,730 | $132,090 | -6% | 16% |
| New York | 6,840 | 0.78 | $95,720 | $60,320 | $144,100 | +6% | 20% |
| North Carolina | 4,670 | 1.05 | $86,650 | $59,550 | $129,710 | -4% | 19% |
| North Dakota | 540 | 1.39 | $93,250 | $63,660 | $130,410 | +3% | 13% |
| Ohio | 6,820 | 1.36 | $91,460 | $57,430 | $136,390 | +1% | 14% |
| Oklahoma | 1,690 | 1.09 | $79,890 | $49,010 | $118,920 | -11% | 16% |
| Oregon | 1,820 | 1.02 | $95,240 | $61,500 | $125,190 | +6% | 20% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,890 | 0.89 | $87,050 | $60,270 | $132,250 | -3% | 17% |
| Rhode Island | 200 | 0.44 | $101,740 | $66,800 | $149,350 | +13% | 17% |
| South Carolina | 2,170 | 1.04 | $88,080 | $57,520 | $135,940 | -2% | 17% |
| South Dakota | 250 | 0.60 | $88,610 | $48,590 | $121,840 | -2% | 14% |
| Tennessee | 2,690 | 0.91 | $81,190 | $47,080 | $119,250 | -10% | 19% |
| Texas | 17,920 | 1.41 | $79,660 | $46,380 | $126,500 | -12% | 22% |
| Utah | 1,230 | 0.78 | $90,200 | $52,560 | $128,960 | +0% | 21% |
| Vermont | 170 | 0.61 | $87,210 | $66,690 | $127,130 | -3% | 18% |
| Virginia | 3,910 | 1.05 | $90,800 | $56,180 | $138,350 | +1% | 22% |
| Washington | 3,570 | 1.11 | $102,920 | $69,470 | $148,330 | +14% | 21% |
| West Virginia | 1,020 | 1.61 | $86,560 | $42,130 | $128,850 | -4% | 12% |
| Wisconsin | 2,250 | 0.84 | $84,750 | $61,680 | $128,430 | -6% | 16% |
| Wyoming | 580 | 2.27 | $94,030 | $61,820 | $133,900 | +4% | 13% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 830 | $128,980 | $78,980 | $197,220 | 0.81 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,550 | $126,860 | $76,590 | $194,920 | 1.19 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,820 | $109,500 | $73,050 | $153,960 | 0.96 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,920 | $109,170 | $67,990 | $155,300 | 0.68 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,720 | $105,960 | $70,200 | $158,000 | 1.11 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 950 | $104,770 | $61,610 | $154,660 | 0.97 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,550 | $102,610 | $58,860 | $142,900 | 0.98 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,870 | $102,120 | $66,110 | $159,590 | 1.28 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,250 | $101,630 | $61,070 | $140,040 | 0.55 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,440 | $101,230 | $62,520 | $140,440 | 1.03 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 730 | $100,000 | $62,150 | $112,460 | 3.35 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,560 | $99,170 | $69,050 | $131,700 | 0.89 |
| Worcester, MA | 300 | $99,150 | $61,080 | $139,860 | 0.94 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,460 | $98,920 | $63,420 | $178,410 | 1.46 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 310 | $98,490 | $66,930 | $139,120 | 1.01 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 350 | $98,320 | $66,210 | $140,280 | 0.55 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,050 | $97,410 | $64,560 | $129,050 | 0.96 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 320 | $96,990 | $60,650 | $139,200 | 0.90 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 310 | $96,820 | $54,660 | $135,460 | 1.41 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,020 | $96,320 | $60,060 | $149,720 | 0.70 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 560 | $95,600 | $63,080 | $123,460 | 1.38 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 300 | $95,490 | $58,200 | $130,410 | 1.16 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 760 | $94,520 | $64,810 | $133,190 | 2.04 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 430 | $94,370 | $58,400 | $131,170 | 0.89 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,160 | $94,010 | $56,630 | $145,770 | 0.95 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 690 | $93,660 | $65,280 | $127,610 | 1.69 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,070 | $93,340 | $45,060 | $124,130 | 0.84 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,260 | $93,200 | $58,480 | $138,710 | 1.27 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,520 | $93,060 | $49,550 | $147,970 | 0.60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 350 | $93,000 | $53,890 | $135,350 | 1.65 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 850 | $92,900 | $61,200 | $139,210 | 0.86 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 430 | $92,610 | $58,180 | $132,050 | 1.06 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 390 | $92,310 | $63,900 | $139,560 | 1.07 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 430 | $92,050 | $63,550 | $133,390 | 0.79 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,710 | $91,620 | $56,170 | $134,990 | 0.65 |
| Midland, TX | 580 | $91,570 | $46,510 | $139,380 | 5.29 |
| Toledo, OH | 330 | $91,560 | $58,770 | $129,460 | 1.23 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,160 | $91,160 | $60,890 | $136,130 | 0.94 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 770 | $90,490 | $63,160 | $137,210 | 1.15 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 690 | $90,470 | $57,320 | $126,600 | 0.67 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,470 | $90,310 | $57,380 | $134,310 | 0.95 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 610 | $90,180 | $52,880 | $128,820 | 0.82 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 940 | $89,920 | $56,050 | $123,470 | 1.36 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 300 | $89,500 | $53,080 | $116,360 | 0.67 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,340 | $89,480 | $60,110 | $128,710 | 1.09 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 400 | $88,990 | $56,340 | $143,730 | 1.19 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 700 | $88,270 | $53,300 | $139,720 | 1.13 |
| Fresno, CA | 310 | $88,090 | $53,050 | $132,240 | 0.72 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,210 | $88,090 | $58,290 | $132,940 | 0.84 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,340 | $88,080 | $56,750 | $127,200 | 0.78 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,100 | $88,070 | $51,150 | $133,330 | 1.18 |
| Birmingham, AL | 630 | $87,920 | $56,950 | $132,770 | 1.34 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 480 | $87,450 | $64,920 | $133,500 | 0.65 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,160 | $87,310 | $61,270 | $136,740 | 1.15 |
| Boise City, ID | 320 | $86,920 | $61,690 | $133,600 | 0.90 |
| Madison, WI | 340 | $86,650 | $64,990 | $130,720 | 0.91 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 300 | $86,480 | $60,270 | $132,290 | 0.87 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 920 | $85,490 | $49,360 | $132,460 | 0.70 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,270 | $84,820 | $56,630 | $123,070 | 1.27 |
| Rochester, NY | 480 | $84,570 | $58,240 | $128,760 | 1.08 |
The median is $90,150 a year ($43.34 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $55,000 and the highest-paid tenth over $134,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
140,610 in May 2025, and BLS projects +18.5% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $111,530 (among states with published figures).