CareerFacts

All careers › Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Safety technician: 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.

$61,560median pay per year, or $29.59 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,280lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,47025th percentile
  3. $61,560median
  4. $78,85075th percentile
  5. $100,160top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median Occupational Health and Safety Technician earned $61,560 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 19.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+19.4%[2]
Openings per year
3,800[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do safety technicians make?

The median pay for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians was $61,560 a year, or $29.59 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $68,120 a year, or $32.75 an hour[7].

For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980 a year[4]. The median for this job was higher.

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,280 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $100,160[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $46,280 $22.25
25th[3][9] $52,470 $25.22
Median[1] $61,560 $29.59
75th[3][9] $78,850 $37.91
90th[3][9] $100,160 $48.15

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 30,590 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Among 48 states with published data, Washington had the highest median at $104,910 a year[12]. Rhode Island followed at $84,640 and West Virginia at $81,470[12]. Montana had the lowest median of those states at $41,420[12].

Texas had the most jobs at 4,420, then California at 2,650 and Illinois at 1,790[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $91,750[14]. Lexington-Fayette, KY came next at $87,870, then Baton Rouge, LA at $85,610[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands with 1,540, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington with 1,350 and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin with 1,310[15].

Show median pay in 48 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$104,910570
Rhode Island$84,64060
West Virginia$81,470320
Alaska$80,760140
New Mexico$79,490790
Minnesota$74,400270
Colorado$73,110400
New York$69,6401,410
Massachusetts$68,730290
Connecticut$68,310130
Wyoming$68,25080
Michigan$67,310450
New Jersey$66,930270
Illinois$65,9601,790
Arizona$65,480440
Ohio$65,0001,310
Oregon$65,000230
Maryland$64,670280
Missouri$64,490270
Wisconsin$64,440640
Maine$64,240140
Georgia$63,2901,210
New Hampshire$62,63050
Virginia$62,380840
Delaware$62,310150
Vermont$61,96080
Nevada$61,770440
North Carolina$61,760720
Pennsylvania$61,6401,020
California$61,3602,650
Mississippi$61,230360
Kentucky$61,120650
Idaho$60,670240
Indiana$60,1501,660
Kansas$59,740480
Nebraska$59,180200
Florida$59,1401,000
South Carolina$58,490420
Iowa$58,300290
Texas$57,9804,420
Louisiana$57,930780
Utah$57,340280
Oklahoma$56,470370
North Dakota$56,000150
Tennessee$55,090310
Alabama$55,010880
Arkansas$50,840510
Montana$41,42060

How to become a safety technician

The typical path looks like this:

The training details here come from a Handbook profile that covers a wider group, which includes specialists as well as technicians[16]. That profile says technicians usually get some training on the job, covering laws, inspections and testing. How long it lasts depends on the person's experience, education and industry[17]. Some technicians also complete an associate's degree or a certificate at a community college or a university. These programs typically take 2 years or less[18]. Employers may prefer or require professional certification, which typically involves an accredited program, work experience and an exam[19].

ONET survey answers look different from the BLS entry path. In a survey of 21 workers, 48% said a bachelor's degree is required, 19% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree, and 10% said a high school diploma or equivalent[20]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, medium preparation[21].

What safety technicians do

Safety technicians collect data on work environments for health and safety specialists and help carry out programs that limit chemical, physical, biological and ergonomic risks[22]. Tasks listed by O*NET include:

Where they work

The Handbook says specialists and technicians work in settings that range from offices and factories to construction sites, and the job may involve considerable travel[24]. The work can be strenuous and stressful, and workers use gloves, helmets, respirators and other protective gear[25]. Most work full time[26]. Some work more than 40 hours a week, and technicians may be on call for emergencies[26]. Transportation and warehousing was the largest employer group in 2025, at 28%[27].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 19.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 31,200 to 37,200 jobs, a gain of 6,100[2]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[28].

About 3,800 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings come from workers who retire or move to other occupations, not only from new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 7.4% move to a different occupation[29].

BLS names one factor behind the growth: employers are paying more attention to worker health and safety. It points to a focus on employee well-being, new workplace technology and more climate-related hazards[30].

Is it a good fit?

The BLS entry path is short. It lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. A small O*NET survey shows some workers report college degrees[20], so check what local employers ask for. Pay is above the all-occupations median, at $61,560 against $50,980[1][4], and it ranges from $46,280 to $100,160 across the 10th to 90th percentiles[3]. Projected growth of 19.4% is well above the 3.5% rate for all occupations[2][28]. The work can be physical and stressful and may involve travel[24][25].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[31].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a safety technician make an hour?
The median was $29.59 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $32.75[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $22.25 and the 90th was $48.15[9].
What education do you need to be a safety technician?
The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. Some technicians earn an associate's degree or certificate in 2 years or less[18].
Are safety technician jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 19.4% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 3,800 openings a year[2][28][5].
What is the highest paying state for safety technicians?
Washington had the highest median at $104,910 a year among 48 states with published data[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians in the US was $61,560 per year and $29.59 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Occupational Health and Safety Technicians is projected to grow 19.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 31,200 to 37,200 jobs (a change of +6,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: 10th percentile $46,280, 25th percentile $52,470, 75th percentile $78,850, 90th percentile $100,160. 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 3,800 openings for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians 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 Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians was $68,120 per year and $32.75 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 Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: 10th percentile $22.25, 25th percentile $25.22, 75th percentile $37.91, 90th percentile $48.15. 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 30,590 people were employed as Occupational Health and Safety Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians 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 Occupational Health and Safety Technicians jobs: Texas 4,420; California 2,650; Illinois 1,790; Indiana 1,660; New York 1,410. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $91,750; Lexington-Fayette, KY $87,870; Baton Rouge, LA $85,610; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $81,480; Albuquerque, NM $80,630; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $80,390; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $77,150; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $76,820. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Occupational Health and Safety Technicians jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,540 (median $60,200); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,350 (median $58,230); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,310 (median $62,670); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,090 (median $77,150); Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN 830 (median $60,440); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 730 (median $67,550). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians" covers Occupational Health and Safety Technicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. 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: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 19-5012.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 48%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 19%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 10%, Some College Courses 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 19-5012.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Occupational Health and Safety Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of occupational health and safety specialists and technicians in 2025: Transportation and warehousing 28%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: Demand change - share increases as employers increasingly prioritize worker health and safety. This will be largely driven by an increased focus on employee well-being, the introduction of new technologies in the workplace, and a greater prevalence of climate-related hazards. BLS Employment Projections
  31. 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. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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.