Health and safety specialist

Also known as: Health and safety engineer, safety engineer, occupational health and safety engineer, industrial hygiene engineer, environmental health and safety (EHS) engineer, workplace safety specialist, risk management engineer, process safety engineer, ergonomics engineer, hazard control engineer, compliance safety officer

Health and safety specialists are the problem-solvers who stand between "oops" and "disaster." These safety detectives investigate workplace accidents, test products before they hit the shelves, and design systems to keep people from getting hurt on the job. If you love figuring out why things go wrong so they never happen again, this could be your calling! With a steadily growing demand, you'll get paid well to literally save lives, and sleep soundly knowing your work keeps families safer every single day.

Duties

Conduct safety audits Be a workplace detective! Catch workplace dangers before they catch workers. Examine building blueprints, factory floors, and equipment designs hunting for potential hazards. Perform routine safety audits to ensure companies are protecting their people. When incidents happen, you're the one who figures out why and makes sure it never happens again.
Evaluate designs and assess risks Review and assess designs or products to identify potential safety hazards and ensure they meet safety standards before manufacturing.
Conduct research Test products and equipment to make sure that they are actually safe before workers use them, or before they are sold to consumers in stores.
Conduct worker training Teach workers how to stay safe on the job by knowing safety rules, spotting hazards, and using protective equipment properly.
Stay updated on regulations Keep up with the latest safety laws and industry changes so you always know what's required to keep people safe.

Education

Minimum qualification: Bachelor’s degree

Most common program: Engineering

Salary

Entry level: 62190
Mid level: 103690
Senior level: 160600

Job outlook

Job openings: 1500

Demand: Rapid growth

Dangerous industries like construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and heavy logistics require constant on-site oversight. (Oil & gas safety engineers make ~ $147K/year (36% above average). Petroleum & chemical jobs also pay $130K+/year.)
Skill are widely applicable across different job sectors, ~ 18,300 openings are projected each year on average. (Companies need specialists to follow government rules, lower insurance costs, and keep workers safe.)
Health & safety regulations are complex and constantly evolving, making a safety team necessary in an organization. (Employment is projected to grow by 12% from 2024-2034.)

Related careers

Sources

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (n.d.) OSHA Publications U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025) Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians Glassdoor (2025) Occupational Health And Safety Engineer Salaries O'NET (2025) Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors CityTown Info (2009) Health and Safety Engineering Career Overview University of Michigan (n.d) Occupational safety engineering and ergonomics Arinite Health and Safety (n.d) Health and Safety Engineering Indeed (2025) How To Become a Safety Engineer in 6 Steps