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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Occupational Health and Safety Technicianss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Occupational Health and Safety Technicianss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Lexington-Fayette ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $94,596/year, better purchasing power than San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's higher nominal pay of $91,750. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$91,750
#2 Lexington-Fayette$87,870
#3 Baton Rouge$85,610

Best purchasing power

#1 Lexington-Fayette$94,596
#2 Baton Rouge$94,305
#3 Albuquerque$84,385

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed occupational health and safety technicianss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Lexington-Fayette
17% rent burden
$87,870
$94,596
#2
Baton Rouge
17% rent burden
$85,610
$94,305
#3
Albuquerque
22% rent burden
$80,630
$84,385
#4
$91,750
$83,092
#5
$81,480
$73,320
#6
Milwaukee-Waukesha
23% rent burden
$69,980
$72,189
#7
Stockton-Lodi
28% rent burden
$75,190
$71,548
#8
Cincinnati
24% rent burden
$67,930
$71,228
#9
$74,400
$70,979
#10
$76,820
$70,952
#11
Reno
32% rent burden
$70,790
$70,082
#12
$80,390
$69,536
#13
Kansas City
25% rent burden
$64,130
$69,300
#14
$77,150
$68,541
#15
$72,170
$68,459
#16
St. Louis
23% rent burden
$64,920
$68,272
#17
Cleveland
24% rent burden
$63,980
$68,122
#18
Columbus
26% rent burden
$64,940
$68,021
#19
$73,560
$67,561
#20
$67,760
$67,557
#21
$67,550
$67,509
#22
Pittsburgh
24% rent burden
$63,830
$67,424
#23
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
25% rent burden
$60,430
$64,590
#24
Mobile
23% rent burden
$55,820
$63,360
#25
$61,670
$63,349

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Occupational Health and Safety Technicianss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $91,750 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $76,458 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A occupational health and safety technicians in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Occupational Health and Safety Technicianss?

Lexington-Fayette has one of the lowest rent burdens for Occupational Health and Safety Technicianss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,272/month, with a median salary of $87,870.

Where do Occupational Health and Safety Technicianss get paid the most in nominal terms?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays the highest nominal median salary at $91,750/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Occupational Health and Safety TechnicianssView →How to become a occupational health and safety techniciansGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →