SOC 17-2111.00Bright outlook

    Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

    Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws.

    Median pay
    $115,160
    Growth
    +5.4%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    1,200
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $68,420
    Median
    $115,160
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $171,250
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    21,450 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Health and safety engineers design systems and procedures to protect workers, the public, and products from harm. They earn a median annual salary of $115,160, with opportunities growing faster than average.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Professionals in this field focus on promoting safety in workplaces and product designs. They spend their days evaluating information to ensure compliance with safety laws and standards, inspecting equipment or structures, and identifying potential hazards. To solve complex problems, these engineers apply their knowledge of engineering, technology, public safety, chemistry, and mechanics. They must gather detailed information, make critical decisions, and document their findings clearly.

    This role requires strong investigative interests and intellectual curiosity. Success in this career relies on skills like active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and systems analysis. Because they frequently explain safety regulations and train others, these engineers must be skilled in speaking, writing, and instruction. Key work styles include cautiousness, attention to detail, dependability, and integrity. They must also show high stress tolerance and adaptability when handling unexpected safety issues or changing government regulations.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree, which aligns with the O*NET classification of needing considerable preparation. Most people in this field hold a degree in engineering, environmental health engineering, or a related technical major, and they often need several years of work experience in a related role before securing an engineering title.

    While not always required to start, some states list a license for this work. Professionals can also boost their credentials by earning industry certifications. Examples of these certifications include the Associate Safety and Health Manager, Certified Sustainability Professional, Certified Fire Plan Examiner I, Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner, Building Plans Examiner, and Commercial Building Inspector.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for these engineers was $115,160. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $68,420, while the highest 10% earned more than $171,250. There are 21,450 people employed in this specialty. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 5.4%, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in about 1,200 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    73 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    77 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    1 / 100
    Social (S)
    19 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    21 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    61 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    88
    Getting Information
    85
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    82
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    82
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    80
    Documenting/Recording Information
    77
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    77
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    76
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    75
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Speaking
    • Systems Analysis
    • Systems Evaluation
    • Instructing

    Knowledge

    • English Language
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Administration and Management
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Law and Government
    • Education and Training
    • Mechanical
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry

    Abilities

    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Speech Clarity
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Fluency of Ideas

    Work styles

    • Cautiousness
    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Adaptability
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Chemical Detection Expert · EHS Intern (Environmental Health and Safety Intern) · Engineer · Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator (EHS Coordinator) · Environmental Health and Safety Engineer (EHS Engineer) · Environmental Health and Safety Manager · Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS Specialist) · Extra Vehicular Activity Safety Engineer (EVA Engineer) · Fire Prevention Engineer · Fire Protection Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$115,160 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Stanford University logo
      Stanford University

      Stanford, CA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $72,063
      4 yrs after
      $115,206
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2Northeastern University logo
      Northeastern University

      Boston, MA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $84,093
      4 yrs after
      $112,019
      Median debt
      $21,500
    3. 3Louisiana Tech University logo
      Louisiana Tech University

      Ruston, LA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $64,275
      4 yrs after
      $105,080
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4
      California State University-Chico

      Chico, CA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $103,272
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $61,084
      4 yrs after
      $103,016
      Median debt
      $8,000
    6. 6California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO logo
      California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO

      San Luis Obispo, CA · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $79,657
      4 yrs after
      $102,702
      Median debt
      $16,109
    7. 7
      Ohio State University-Main Campus

      Columbus, OH · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $83,095
      4 yrs after
      $97,144
      Median debt
      $19,071
    8. 8Oregon State University logo
      Oregon State University

      Corvallis, OR · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $94,278
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work. Showing 12 of 20.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Engineering, Other
    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    52 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Questions about health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for this career?

    People in this field are often called environmental health and safety engineers, fire protection engineers, or EHS specialists. Other titles include chemical detection experts, fire prevention engineers, and environmental health and safety managers.

    What college majors are most relevant for this job?

    Students typically major in environmental or environmental health engineering. General engineering degrees and other closely related technical programs also provide the necessary educational foundation.

    Are there specific certifications available for health and safety engineers?

    Yes, professionals can earn credentials such as the Associate Safety and Health Manager or the Certified Sustainability Professional. Other options include specialized inspector and examiner certifications in building codes, fire plans, and accessibility.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.