The median pay for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors is $115,160 a year ($55.36/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.4% through 2035, with about 1,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2111
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors in four numbers
- Median pay
- $115,160a year, or $55.36/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $68KTop 10% $171K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.4%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,20022,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202522.3K
- Projected 203523.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 22.3K Projected 2035 23.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Health and Safety Specialist, Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Safety Engineer, Product Safety and Standards Engineer, Product Safety Consultant, Product Safety Engineer.
Pay
How much do Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors make?
Every health and safety engineer, except mining safety engineers and inspectors in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$115,160
Middle half earn $90,930 to $142,980
- 10th
- $68,420
- 25th
- $90,930
- 75th
- $142,980
- 90th
- $171,250
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,420 |
| 25th | $90,930 |
| Median | $115,160 |
| 75th | $142,980 |
| 90th | $171,250 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $115,160
- Median hourly wage
- $55.36/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $119,770
- People employed
- 21,450
Versus all US occupations
At $115,160, Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors earn 126% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $64,180 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 11% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $171,250 or more while the bottom 10% earn $68,420, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($131,540), but once local prices are taken into account Ohio leads at $139,651 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $131,540 | $118,804 | 2,470 |
| 2Massachusetts | $131,210 | $124,067 | 750 |
| 3New Hampshire | $130,500 | $125,282 | 80 |
| 4Ohio | $129,560 | $139,651 | 650 |
| 5Washington | $126,590 | $118,294 | 420 |
| 6Texas | $123,440 | $127,183 | 4,320 |
| 7Pennsylvania | $121,730 | $124,759 | 490 |
| 8Nevada | $121,660 | $121,686 | 80 |
| 9Colorado | $120,950 | $117,368 | 210 |
| 10Minnesota | $120,050 | $121,729 | 220 |
Job outlook
Is Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | +5.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors to change 5.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,200 openings are projected each year, 5.4% of the 22,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Health and safety engineers will be needed to help protect against potential hazards. As new regulations are created, organizations are expected to rely on these engineers for help in complying with requirements that safeguard people from illness and injury and property from damage.
Getting in
How to become a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Completing internships or cooperative-education programs may be helpful for gaining hands-on experience while in school.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors do?
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.
Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety.
Day-to-day tasks
- Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
- Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
- Recommend procedures for detection, prevention, and elimination of physical, chemical, or other product hazards.
- Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
- Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
- Interview employers and employees to obtain information about work environments and workplace incidents.
- Review employee safety programs to determine their adequacy.
- Interpret safety regulations for others interested in industrial safety, such as safety engineers, labor representatives, and safety inspectors.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most health and safety engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Manufacturing22%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals12%
- Engineering services10%
- Construction9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 12% |
| Engineering services | 10% |
| Construction | 9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.8
- Writing3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Systems Analysis3.6
- Systems Evaluation3.5
- Instructing3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.5 |
| Instructing | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative5.6
- Realistic5.4
- Conventional4.7
- Enterprising2.3
- Social2.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Occupational Health and Safety Technician
$61,560median a year
Most earn $46K to $100K
+19.4%High school - Life, Physical, and Social Science
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
$90,150median a year
Most earn $55K to $135K
+18.5%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health
$82,220median a year
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- Life, Physical, and Social Science
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$55,090median a year
Most earn $38K to $94K
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More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$115,160
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within health and safety engineer, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors appears on
Questions
Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors: frequently asked questions
How much do Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors make?
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors earn a median of $115,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 126% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $55.36/hr. The middle half earn between $90,930 and $142,980. The top 10% earn $171,250 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.4% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors do?
Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety. A core O*NET task: conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors the most?
The highest state medians for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors are California ($131,540), Massachusetts ($131,210), New Hampshire ($130,500) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Ohio moves to the top at $139,651.
What personality type suits a Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors?
O*NET scores Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.