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Salary comparison

Chemical Technicians vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: Who Earns More?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss out-earn Chemical Technicianss by $30K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Chemical Technicianss land at $60,390 and Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss at $90,150. The education gap is real: chemical technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while occupational health and safety specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Chemical Technicianss is Louisiana ($85,850); for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss it's District of Columbia ($111,530).

Chemical Technicians
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Median salary
$60,390
$90,150
Hourly rate
$29.03/hr
$43.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$41,740
$55,000
Senior level (90th %)
$92,040
$134,950
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
57,540
140,610
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Science
Science
Top-paying state
Louisiana
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Chemical Technicians median pay.

State
Chemical Technicians
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Alaska
$79,380
$99,270
Massachusetts
$67,570
$103,970
Hawaii
$63,910
$94,840
Colorado
$63,770
$101,400
Minnesota
$62,400
$96,990
Washington
$62,100
$102,920
Illinois
$61,890
$98,270
Rhode Island
$61,680
$101,740
New York
$60,900
$95,720
California
$59,510
$102,840
Oregon
$57,960
$95,240
Connecticut
$57,310
$96,110
District of Columbia
$56,530
$111,530
Maine
$49,280
$97,640
New Hampshire
$48,940
$101,260

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Chemical Technicianss or Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss earn more nationally. The median is $60,390 for Chemical Technicianss versus $90,150 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss, a difference of $30K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Chemical Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Chemical Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

Chemical Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Chemical Technicianss get paid the most?

Louisiana is the top-paying state for Chemical Technicianss at $85,850/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Chemical Technicians vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Chemical Technicianss earn $79,380 vs. $99,270 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Chemical Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Chemical Technicianss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Occupational Health and Safety Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a chemical techniciansGuide →How to become a occupational health and safety specialistsGuide →