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Summary

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9gbU7KPAOg.
Quick Facts: Health and Safety Engineers
2023 Median Pay $103,690 per year
$49.85 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2023 23,100
Job Outlook, 2023-33 5% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2023-33 1,200

What Health and Safety Engineers Do

Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety.

Work Environment

Health and safety engineers typically work in an office setting, and most are full time. They also may need to travel to worksites.

How to Become a Health and Safety Engineer

Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Completing an internship or cooperative-education program may be helpful for gaining hands-on experience while in school.

Pay

The median annual wage for health and safety engineers was $103,690 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of health and safety engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 1,500 openings for health and safety engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for health and safety engineers.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of health and safety engineers with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about health and safety engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Health and Safety Engineers Do About this section

Worker checking equipment.
Health and safety engineers inspect machinery and safety equipment for potential hazards.

Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety.

Duties

Health and safety engineers typically do the following:

  • Apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes related to health and safety
  • Review plans for new machinery and equipment to make sure that they meet safety requirements
  • Inspect facilities, machinery, safety equipment, or products to identify and recommend corrective action for potential hazards
  • Investigate the cause of industrial accidents or injuries
  • Direct the installation of safety devices
  • Create new or review existing employee safety programs and recommend improvements

Health and safety engineers evaluate worksites, products, and systems to ensure safety. They identify concerns and recommend changes to address potential risks. Their work duties and job titles may vary by position. For example, fire prevention and protection engineers analyze potential fire hazards of buildings, materials, and transportation systems.

In addition to focusing on prevention, health and safety engineers investigate industrial accidents and injuries to determine what the cause was and whether the incidents were avoidable. They interview employers and employees to learn about work environments that may have led to accidents or injuries. They also evaluate the corrections that were made to remedy violations found during health inspections.

For information on health and safety engineers who work in mines, see the profile on mining and geological engineers.

Work Environment About this section

Health and safety engineers
Health and safety engineers may need to spend time at worksites.

Health and safety engineers held about 23,100 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of health and safety engineers were as follows:

Manufacturing 26%
Government 13
Engineering services 10
Construction 10
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 6

Health and safety engineers typically work in an office setting. They also may need to travel to worksites.

Work Schedules

Most health and safety engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become a Health and Safety Engineer About this section

Male and female engineers talking in industrial setting.
Health and safety engineers must be able to identify hazards before those hazards damage property or health.

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.

Education

High school students interested in health and safety engineering should take classes in mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; computer science; and sciences, such as chemistry and physics.

Health and safety engineers typically require a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, such as chemical, mechanical, industrial, or systems engineering. Bachelor’s degree programs include academic and laboratory coursework in subjects such as occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and environmental safety. Employers may prefer to hire graduates of engineering programs accredited by a professional association such as ABET.

Colleges and universities may offer internships or cooperative-education programs with businesses that allow students to gain practical experience while completing their education.

Some colleges and universities offer 5-year programs that lead to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level health and safety engineer positions. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public.

State licensure typically requires a bachelor’s or higher degree in engineering, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam.

Each state issues its own license. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.

Some states require fire protection engineers to have a license. Check with your state for more information.

Although certification is not required, some health and safety engineers choose to earn a professional credential. For example, the International Council on Systems Engineering offers a program leading to designation as a Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP).

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Health and safety engineers prepare and present training materials to workers. They must be able to clearly explain regulations and procedures to a variety of audiences.

Critical-thinking skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to interpret regulations and their intent so that they can propose designs for specific worksites.

Interpersonal skills. Health and safety engineers interact with workers across an organization to evaluate safety programs, identify potential hazards, and recommend corrective actions. They also must be able to develop a rapport with employers and employees when interviewing them during investigations.

Observational skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to identify hazards before those hazards damage property or health.

Problem-solving skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to identify issues with safety processes or products and recommend ways to improve them.

Pay About this section

Health and Safety Engineers

Median annual wages, May 2023

Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

$103,690

Engineers

$102,660

Total, all occupations

$48,060

 

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

The median annual wage for health and safety engineers was $103,690 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,190, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $160,600.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for health and safety engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Management, scientific, and technical consulting services $108,430
Manufacturing 105,810
Government 102,490
Engineering services 101,770
Construction 96,960

Most health and safety engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Job Outlook About this section

Health and Safety Engineers

Percent change in employment, projected 2023-33

Engineers

9%

Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

5%

Total, all occupations

4%

 

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Employment of health and safety engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 1,500 openings for health and safety engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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.

Employment

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.

Employment projections data for health and safety engineers, 2023-33
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2023 Projected Employment, 2033 Change, 2023-33 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

 17-2111 23,100 24,300 5 1,200 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of health and safety engineers.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help on Entry-Level Education 2023 MEDIAN PAY Help on Median Pay
Construction and building inspectors Construction and Building Inspectors

Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.

 High school diploma or equivalent $67,700
Fire inspectors and investigators Fire Inspectors

Fire inspectors detect fire hazards, recommend prevention measures, ensure compliance with state and local fire regulations, and investigate causes of fires.

 See How to Become One $71,420
Industrial engineers Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineers design, develop, and test integrated systems for managing industrial production processes.

 Bachelor's degree $99,380
Mining and geological engineers Mining and Geological Engineers

Mining and geological engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals for use in manufacturing and utilities.

 Bachelor's degree $100,640
Occupational health and safety specialists Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians

Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians collect data on, analyze, and design improvements to work environments and procedures.

 See How to Become One $77,580

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about general engineering education and career resources, visit

Technology Student Association

For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit

ABET

For more information about the Professional Engineer license, visit

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying

National Society of Professional Engineers

For information about systems engineering certification, visit

International Council on Systems Engineering

O*NET

Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers

Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health and Safety Engineers,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/health-and-safety-engineers.htm (visited September 25, 2024).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024

What They Do

The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.

Work Environment

The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

How to Become One

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

Pay

The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.

State & Area Data

The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information

The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

2023 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all workers was $48,060.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.

Number of Jobs, 2023

The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2023, which is the base year of the 2023-33 employment projections.

Job Outlook, 2023-33

The projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033. The average growth rate for all occupations is 4 percent.

Employment Change, 2023-33

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Employment Change, projected 2023-33

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Growth Rate (Projected)

The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2023 to 2033.

Projected Number of New Jobs

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Projected Growth Rate

The projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

2023 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all workers was $48,060.