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Safety engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$115,160median pay per year, or $55.36 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $68,420lowest 10% earn less
  2. $90,93025th percentile
  3. $115,160median
  4. $142,98075th percentile
  5. $171,250top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A safety engineer, which BLS calls a health and safety engineer, had a median pay of $115,160 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.4%[2]
Openings per year
1,200[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do safety engineers make?

In May 2025, the median wage for health and safety engineers was $115,160 a year, or $55.36 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $119,770 a year, or $57.58 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $68,420 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $171,250[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages and no starting salary[8].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $68,420 $32.89
25th percentile[3][9] $90,930 $43.72
Median[1] $115,160 $55.36
75th percentile[3][9] $142,980 $68.74
90th percentile[3][9] $171,250 $82.33

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits[10]. About 21,450 people held wage and salary jobs in this field in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 45 states[12]. California came first at $131,540, followed by Massachusetts at $131,210, New Hampshire at $130,500, Ohio at $129,560 and Washington at $126,590[12]. West Virginia was last on the list at $76,700[12].

Texas had the most jobs, at 4,320[13]. California had 2,470 and New York had 1,570[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kennewick-Richland, WA had the highest median at $149,740, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $147,220 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $143,050[14]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had the most metro jobs, at 1,400, with a median of $130,280[15].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$131,5402,470
Massachusetts$131,210750
New Hampshire$130,50080
Ohio$129,560650
Washington$126,590420
Texas$123,4404,320
Pennsylvania$121,730490
Nevada$121,66080
Colorado$120,950210
Minnesota$120,050220
New Jersey$119,370430
Louisiana$118,490370
Delaware$118,44050
Oregon$116,020180
Connecticut$115,640270
Illinois$111,370230
Maryland$110,950520
Michigan$107,780720
Kentucky$107,760300
Utah$106,980260
North Carolina$106,800480
Arizona$106,370180
Iowa$106,350230
Georgia$105,880350
Alabama$105,490570
Virginia$104,920380
South Carolina$104,120280
Nebraska$103,23090
Oklahoma$102,890620
Alaska$102,690110
Kansas$102,690120
Florida$101,790770
Arkansas$101,590130
New York$101,3001,570
Idaho$98,860250
Montana$97,67060
New Mexico$94,640340
Rhode Island$94,62040
Wisconsin$92,700250
Missouri$89,820250
Mississippi$87,180120
Indiana$83,240440
Hawaii$82,30070
Maine$82,14070
West Virginia$76,700210

How to become a safety engineer

High school students interested in this field can take math, computer science and science classes[19]. Employers may prefer graduates of engineering programs that a professional association has accredited[17]. Some colleges run 5-year tracks that award a bachelor's and a master's together[20].

A license is not required for entry-level positions[21]. Experienced engineers may get a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which lets them oversee other engineers, sign off on projects and serve the public directly[21]. State licensure typically takes an engineering degree, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, several years of relevant experience and a passing score on the PE exam[22]. Each state issues its own license[23]. Certification is not required, though some engineers earn a professional credential[24].

BLS lists communication and critical thinking as important qualities[25][26].

What safety engineers do

Safety engineers work to make worksites and products safer. They draw on knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology and health and safety laws[27]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as industrial hygienist, product safety engineer and safety consultant[29].

Where they work

Safety engineers typically work in an office. They may also travel to worksites[30]. Full-time hours are typical, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[31]. Manufacturing was the largest employer in 2025, at 22% of health and safety engineers[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of health and safety engineers to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, adding about 1,200 jobs[2]. All occupations together are expected to grow 3.5%[33]. These counts include the self-employed[2].

About 1,200 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job that typically needs a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field[6][16]. Pay is well above the all-occupations median, with a wide range[1][4][3]. Work is mostly in offices with some travel to worksites[30]. Jobs are projected to grow a little faster than the average for all occupations[2][33]. The path to a PE license adds exams and years of experience for those who want it[22].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a safety engineer make an hour?
The BLS median for health and safety engineers was $55.36 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $57.58[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a safety engineer?
The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree[6], usually in engineering or a related field[16].
Is safety engineering in demand?
BLS projects 5.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 1,200 openings a year[2][33][5].
What is the highest paying state for safety engineers?
California had the highest median among the 45 states with published data, at $131,540[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors in the US was $115,160 per year and $55.36 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors is projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 22,300 to 23,500 jobs (a change of +1,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors: 10th percentile $68,420, 25th percentile $90,930, 75th percentile $142,980, 90th percentile $171,250. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,200 openings for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors was $119,770 per year and $57.58 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors: 10th percentile $32.89, 25th percentile $43.72, 75th percentile $68.74, 90th percentile $82.33. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 21,450 people were employed as Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors jobs: Texas 4,320; California 2,470; New York 1,570; Florida 770; Massachusetts 750. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kennewick-Richland, WA $149,740; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $147,220; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $143,050; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $137,540; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $131,540; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $130,280; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $129,820; Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $129,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,400 (median $130,280); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,240 (median $111,380); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,190 (median $127,540); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 850 (median $131,540); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 490 (median $128,600); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 420 (median $125,760). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 17-2111.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Health and Safety Specialist, Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Safety Engineer, Product Safety and Standards Engineer, Product Safety Consultant, Product Safety Engineer, Safety and Health Consultant, Safety Engineer. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of health and safety engineers in 2025: Manufacturing 22%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.