Safety Careers: Roles, Salaries & How to Get Started (2026)

The safety profession offers strong salaries, high demand, and meaningful work protecting people’s lives. This page breaks down the main roles, what they pay, and what you need to get started or move up.

Why Safety Careers Are Growing

Workplace safety isn’t optional. Every company with employees faces OSHA regulations, and someone has to manage compliance. That’s why safety professionals are in high demand across construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare, and utilities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational health and safety specialists (SOC 29-9011) earn a median salary of $78,570 per year. The top 10% earn over $115,000. And the field is growing faster than average, driven by stricter regulations and increased employer focus on prevention.

You don’t always need a four-year degree to get started. Many safety professionals enter the field with OSHA training, hands-on experience, and professional certifications.

Safety Career Paths

Here’s a snapshot of the most common safety roles, what they pay, and what you need to get started.

Salary ranges are approximate based on BLS OEWS data and industry reports.

How to Enter the Safety Field

There are two main paths into a safety career:

Path 1: Start from the trades. Many safety managers started as construction workers, electricians, or equipment operators. They earned their OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 cards, gained field experience, and worked their way into safety coordinator roles. This path values hands-on knowledge of real workplace hazards.

Path 2: Start with a degree. A bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental health, or engineering provides a direct entry point. Many universities offer accredited programs. This path leads more quickly to professional certifications like the CSP or CIH.

Both paths are valid. Many employers care more about certifications and experience than where your degree came from.

Certifications That Matter

The certifications that have the biggest impact on your safety career:

CSP (Certified Safety Professional) The gold standard. Issued by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Requires a degree, 4+ years of experience, and passing a rigorous exam. Has the strongest correlation with higher salaries.

ASP (Associate Safety Professional) The stepping stone to CSP. Same issuing body, less experience required. Good for early-career professionals.

CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician) Targeted at construction safety. Requires less formal education than CSP. Good for trades workers moving into safety roles.

CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist) Focuses on chemical, biological, and physical hazard assessment. Required for most industrial hygienist positions.

OSHA 30 Not a professional certification, but a baseline expectation. Most safety management positions require an OSHA 30 card at minimum.

See our full guide: Top Safety Certifications That Increase Your Salary

Top-Paying Industries for Safety Professionals

Where you work matters as much as what you do. These industries tend to pay safety professionals the most:

1. Oil and gas extraction Highest average salaries, driven by hazardous work environments
2. Pipeline transportation High pay, strong demand for HAZWOPER-trained professionals
3. Mining Strict federal regulations (MSHA) create steady demand
4. Construction Especially large commercial and industrial projects
5. Utilities Electrical, water, and gas utilities need safety managers

Salary by State

Safety salaries vary significantly by location. States with high construction activity, oil and gas production, or strict state OSHA plans tend to pay the most.

Our Safety Professional Salaries by State guide breaks down BLS data for all 50 states.

Next Steps

Pick a career path that matches your background and goals:

• Coming from the trades? Start with How to Become a Safety Manager
• Have a degree? Look at EHS Specialist or Industrial Hygienist
• Want to work in hazmat? Read How to Become a HAZMAT Technician
• Need certifications first? Browse our certifications directory