Occupations · Life, Physical, and Social Science

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 19-5012.00

$58,440median annual wage, May 2024

31,450people employed, United States

▲ 8.5%projected change, 2024→2034

3,400openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 13% between 2019 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$49,980	1,900
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$51,570	1,560
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$66,210	1,350
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$72,820	1,170
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$57,610	1,030
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$58,630	950
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	$59,170	790
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$66,260	610
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$59,960	570
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$59,770	430
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$69,190	320
Austin-Round Rock, TX	$49,650	310

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Recommend corrective measures to be applied based on results of environmental contaminant analyses.
Prepare or review specifications or orders for the purchase of safety equipment, ensuring that proper features are present and that items conform to health and safety standards.
Prepare or calibrate equipment used to collect or analyze samples.
Help direct rescue or firefighting operations in the event of a fire or an explosion.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening4.0

Critical Thinking3.9

Speaking3.9

Reading Comprehension3.9

Writing3.8

Monitoring3.2

Active Learning3.1

Learning Strategies3.0

Mathematics2.8

Science2.8

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft SharePoint●Microsoft Word●SAP software●Brady Lockout ProDatabase softwareEmail softwareGraphics softwareIndustrial Scientific iNETQuestSuite ProfessionalRemedy Interactive iMitigateStatistical analysis softwareTapRooTTeleconferencing softwareWeb browser software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets+1.5 above average

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled+1.5 above average

Outdoors, Under Cover+1.3 above average

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment+1.3 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions+1.2 above average

Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection+1.1 above average

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment+1.1 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2024-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree48%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)19%

Some College Courses10%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)10%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2024-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional5.6

Realistic5.3

Investigative4.9

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving3.2

Judgment and Decision Making3.2

Systems Analysis3.1

Negotiation3.1

Persuasion3.1

Social Perceptiveness3.1

Coordination3.0

Systems Evaluation3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Education and TrainingEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentEngineering and TechnologyMathematics

Abilities it leans on

Inductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityDeductive Reasoning

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Safety TrainerSafety OfficerRadiation MonitorSafety InstructorSafety SpecialistSafety CoordinatorIndustrial HygienistWorkplace CoordinatorSite Safety CoordinatorFood Safety CoordinatorField Safety CoordinatorPatient Safety CoordinatorSafety Compliance CoordinatorHealth and Safety Coordinator

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2020

Comparing O*NET release 25.1 (2020-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

No longer listed 3

−Presentation software−Word processing software−Spreadsheet software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Safety PersonSafety OfficerSafety TrainerSafety InstructorSafety SpecialistRadiation MonitorSafety TechnicianSafety CoordinatorIndustrial HygienistWorkplace CoordinatorErgonomics TechnicianLife Safety Technician

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
health and safety officer	2263.3	broader
construction safety inspector	3112.2	broader
mine safety officer	3117.4	broader
transport health and safety inspector	3257.6	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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