Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

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

Nuclear Technicians out-earn Occupational Health and Safety Specialists by $20K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Nuclear Technicians land at $110,240 and Occupational Health and Safety Specialists at $90,150. The education gap is real: nuclear technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while occupational health and safety specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Nuclear Technicians is Florida ($135,550); for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists it's District of Columbia ($111,530).

Nuclear Technicians
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Median salary
$110,240
$90,150
Hourly rate
$53/hr
$43.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$73,150
$55,000
Senior level (90th %)
$133,600
$134,950
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
6,470
140,610
Job growth (10-year)
-7.7%
12.5%
Category
Science
Science
Top-paying state
Florida
District of Columbia

Pay by state

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

State
Nuclear Technicians
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Florida
$135,550
$88,820
New York
$129,780
$95,720
Pennsylvania
$124,070
$87,050
Texas
$124,060
$79,660
Massachusetts
$113,390
$103,970
North Carolina
$110,430
$86,650
Illinois
$110,390
$98,270
Alabama
$110,240
$82,260
South Carolina
$108,490
$88,080
Washington
$108,200
$102,920
Missouri
$104,580
$83,090
California
$99,270
$102,840
Virginia
$98,930
$90,800
Tennessee
$91,980
$81,190

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Nuclear Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?

Nuclear Technicians earn more nationally. The median is $110,240 for Nuclear Technicians versus $90,150 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, a difference of $20K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 12.5% projected growth, compared to -7.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Nuclear 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 Nuclear Technicians get paid the most?

Florida is the top-paying state for Nuclear Technicians at $135,550/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Florida, Nuclear Technicians earn $135,550 vs. $88,820 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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