Trains for and responds to underground mine emergencies such as fires, explosions and collapses, wearing breathing apparatus to find and rescue trapped miners. BLS does not publish separate figures for occupational health and safety technicians; it counts them within occupational health and safety technician (SOC 19-5012), whose median pay is $61,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 19-5012
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Mine Rescue Specialist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,560a year, or $29.59/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $46KTop 10% $100K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +19.4%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+19.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +19.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,80031,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202531.2K
- Projected 203537.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 31.2K Projected 2035 37.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school9.5%
- Certificate4.8%
- Some college9.5%
- Associate's19.1%
- Bachelor's47.6%
- Post-bacc certificate4.8%
Highest education held by occupational health and safety technicians Segment Value High school 9.5% Certificate 4.8% Some college 9.5% Associate's 19.1% Bachelor's 47.6% Post-bacc certificate 4.8%
Also advertised as: Mine Rescue Team Member, Mine Rescue Coordinator, Mine Rescue Instructor, Mine Emergency Response Specialist.
Pay
How much do Occupational Health and Safety Technicians make?
Every mine rescue specialist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,560
Middle half earn $52,470 to $78,850
- 10th
- $46,280
- 25th
- $52,470
- 75th
- $78,850
- 90th
- $100,160
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $46,280 |
| 25th | $52,470 |
| Median | $61,560 |
| 75th | $78,850 |
| 90th | $100,160 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,560
- Median hourly wage
- $29.59/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $68,120
- People employed
- 30,590
Versus all US occupations
At $61,560, Occupational Health and Safety Technicians earn 21% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,580 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 25% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,160 or more while the bottom 10% earn $46,280, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 34% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $104,910, and still leads at $98,035 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Occupational Health and Safety Technicians 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $104,910 | $98,035 | 570 |
| 2Rhode Island | $84,640 | $82,753 | 60 |
| 3West Virginia | $81,470 | $91,031 | 320 |
| 4Alaska | $80,760 | $78,899 | 140 |
| 5New Mexico | $79,490 | $86,204 | 790 |
| 6Minnesota | $74,400 | $75,440 | 270 |
| 7Colorado | $73,110 | $70,945 | 400 |
| 8New York | $69,640 | $64,529 | 1,410 |
| 9Massachusetts | $68,730 | $64,989 | 290 |
| 10Connecticut | $68,310 | $65,930 | 130 |
Job outlook
Is Mine Rescue Specialist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +19.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | +19.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Occupational Health and Safety Technicians to change 19.4% over 2025–2035, roughly 5.5× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 6,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,800 openings are projected each year, 12.2% of the 31,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Mine Rescue Specialist
Most mine rescue team members are experienced miners who volunteer or are selected for their company's team. Federal rules in 30 CFR Part 49 set the requirements: team members must complete an initial training course on the breathing apparatus they will use, followed by substantial annual refresher training, and coal team members must take part in mine rescue contests.
MSHA publishes mine rescue instruction guides used for this training. Full-time coordinators and instructors usually have years of underground experience, emergency medical training and often a background in mine safety. Physical fitness and the ability to work calmly in confined, dark and hazardous conditions are essential.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as occupational health and safety technicians.
- Bachelor's Degree47.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree19.1%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)9.5%
- Some College Courses9.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 47.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 19.1% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 9.5% |
| Some College Courses | 9.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Mine Rescue Specialist do?
Mine rescue specialists respond when something goes wrong underground: fires, explosions, inundations, roof falls or toxic atmospheres. Wearing closed-circuit breathing apparatus, teams enter the mine to explore, test the air, find and rescue trapped or injured miners, fight fires and restore ventilation.
Because emergencies are rare, most of the job is preparation. Specialists train constantly, maintain breathing apparatus and gas detectors, run mine emergency drills, and compete in mine rescue contests that test skills in simulated disasters. Some work full time as mine rescue coordinators or instructors for mining companies, state agencies or the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Day-to-day tasks
- Train in breathing apparatus use, exploration and rescue procedures
- Respond to underground fires, explosions and collapses
- Test mine atmospheres for toxic and explosive gases
- Search for, treat and evacuate trapped or injured miners
- Maintain breathing apparatus, gas detectors and rescue equipment
- Plan and run mine emergency drills
- Compete in mine rescue contests
- Restore ventilation and seal fire areas during recovery
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Mine rescue specialists work at mine sites, rescue stations and training facilities, mostly in coal and metal mining regions. Training often takes place underground. Emergency responses mean long, exhausting shifts in heat, smoke and darkness while wearing heavy equipment, and teams must be ready to deploy at any time.
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.
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.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.8
- Monitoring3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Persuasion3.1
- Negotiation3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Industrial control software
- Internet browser software
“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 Mine Rescue Specialist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RSI) built on O*NET's Occupational Health and Safety Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Mine Rescue Specialist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.5
- Conventional5.2
- Investigative4.9
- Social3.6
- Enterprising2.6
- 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 Mine Rescue Specialist
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 - Architecture and Engineering
Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
$115,160median a year
Most earn $68K to $171K
+5.4%Bachelor's - 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
Most earn $53K to $140K
+6.1%Bachelor's - Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Science and Protection Technician, Including Health
$55,090median a year
Most earn $38K to $94K
+6.9%Associate's
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with occupational health and safety technicians highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Mine Rescue Specialist$61,560
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Mine Rescue Specialist | $61,560 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Mine Rescue Specialist appears on
Questions
Mine Rescue Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do Occupational Health and Safety Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for occupational health and safety technicians. It counts them within occupational health and safety technician, whose median pay is $61,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $52,470 and $78,850, and the top 10% earn $100,160 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Mine Rescue Specialist?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 47.6% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Mine Rescue Specialist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 19.4% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Mine Rescue Specialist do?
Mine rescue specialists respond when something goes wrong underground: fires, explosions, inundations, roof falls or toxic atmospheres. A typical task: train in breathing apparatus use, exploration and rescue procedures. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Occupational Health and Safety Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians are Washington ($104,910), Rhode Island ($84,640), West Virginia ($81,470) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Mine Rescue Specialist?
O*NET scores Occupational Health and Safety Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. 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.