How much does a health and safety engineer make?
The median health and safety engineer in the United States earns $115,160 per year, about $55.36 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all health and safety engineers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 17-2111.
Health and safety engineer salary range
Pay for health and safety engineers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $68,420 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $171,250. The average (mean) wage of $119,770 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,420 | $32.89 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $90,930 | $43.72 | |
| Median (50th) | $115,160 | $55.36 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $142,980 | $68.74 | |
| 90th percentile | $171,250 | $82.33 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors (SOC 17-2111), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Health and safety engineer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Health and safety engineers earn the most in California at $131,540 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $76,700. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $131,540 | 2,470 |
| Massachusetts | $131,210 | 750 |
| New Hampshire | $130,500 | 80 |
| Ohio | $129,560 | 650 |
| Washington | $126,590 | 420 |
| Texas | $123,440 | 4,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $121,730 | 490 |
| Nevada | $121,660 | 80 |
| Colorado | $120,950 | 210 |
| Minnesota | $120,050 | 220 |
| New Jersey | $119,370 | 430 |
| Louisiana | $118,490 | 370 |
| Delaware | $118,440 | 50 |
| Oregon | $116,020 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $115,640 | 270 |
| Illinois | $111,370 | 230 |
| Maryland | $110,950 | 520 |
| Michigan | $107,780 | 720 |
| Kentucky | $107,760 | 300 |
| Utah | $106,980 | 260 |
| North Carolina | $106,800 | 480 |
| Arizona | $106,370 | 180 |
| Iowa | $106,350 | 230 |
| Georgia | $105,880 | 350 |
| Alabama | $105,490 | 570 |
| Virginia | $104,920 | 380 |
| South Carolina | $104,120 | 280 |
| Nebraska | $103,230 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $102,890 | 620 |
| Alaska | $102,690 | 110 |
| Kansas | $102,690 | 120 |
| Florida | $101,790 | 770 |
| Arkansas | $101,590 | 130 |
| New York | $101,300 | 1,570 |
| Idaho | $98,860 | 250 |
| Montana | $97,670 | 60 |
| New Mexico | $94,640 | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $94,620 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $92,700 | 250 |
| Missouri | $89,820 | 250 |
| Mississippi | $87,180 | 120 |
| Indiana | $83,240 | 440 |
| Hawaii | $82,300 | 70 |
| Maine | $82,140 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $76,700 | 210 |
State median wages for health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors (SOC 17-2111), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for health and safety engineers
The BLS projects employment of health and safety engineers to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 22,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 23,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,200 openings a year for health and safety engineers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a health and safety engineer
The typical entry-level education for health and safety engineers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a health and safety engineer earns
Discipline, licensure (such as a PE license), industry, and region drive pay. Senior, licensed engineers in high demand fields and expensive metros earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $131,540) and the lowest (West Virginia, $76,700) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 21,450 people work as health and safety engineers in the United States. At $115,160 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Health and safety engineer salary FAQ
How much does a health and safety engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a health and safety engineer is $55.36. The middle half of health and safety engineers earn between $43.72 and $68.74 per hour.
What is the highest health and safety engineer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of health and safety engineers earn more than $171,250 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a health and safety engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for a health and safety engineer is $115,160. The average (mean) wage of $119,770 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a health and safety engineer a well paid job?
At $115,160 a year, a health and safety engineer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 21,450 people work as health and safety engineers in the United States.
Which state pays health and safety engineers the most?
California has the highest median salary for health and safety engineers at $131,540 a year. Massachusetts ($131,210) and New Hampshire ($130,500) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a health and safety engineer a good career?
Employment of health and safety engineers is projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a health and safety engineer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for health and safety engineers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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