Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
- Median pay
- $61,560
- Doing it now
- 31,200
- By 2035
- Up 19.4%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
a year
across the country
3,800 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
- Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
- Prepare or calibrate equipment used to collect or analyze samples.
- Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
- Prepare or review specifications or orders for the purchase of safety equipment, ensuring that proper features are present and that items conform to health and safety standards.
- Examine credentials, licenses, or permits to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
- Educate the public about health issues or enforce health legislation to prevent disease, to promote health, or to help people understand health protection procedures and regulations.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Quality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansSee 31 colleges that teach it
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsSee 589 colleges that teach it
- Public HealthSee 543 colleges that teach it
- Pharmacology and ToxicologySee 25 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Organised and precise
Hands-on and practical
Analytical and curious
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $61,560 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.