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Occupational Health and Safety Specialists vs. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: Who Earns More?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists out-earn Occupational Health and Safety Specialists by $13K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists land at $90,150 and Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists at $103,410. The education gap is real: occupational health and safety specialist programs typically require bachelor's degree, while medical scientists, except epidemiologist programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists is District of Columbia ($111,530); for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists it's California ($136,990).

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Median salary
$90,150
$103,410
Hourly rate
$43.34/hr
$49.72/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$55,000
$64,800
Senior level (90th %)
$134,950
$177,780
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
U.S. employment
140,610
172,340
Job growth (10-year)
12.5%
8.7%
Category
Science
Science
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Occupational Health and Safety Specialists median pay.

State
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
District of Columbia
$111,530
$101,940
Massachusetts
$103,970
$128,210
Washington
$102,920
$105,680
California
$102,840
$136,990
Rhode Island
$101,740
$103,370
Alaska
$99,270
$104,930
Connecticut
$96,110
$116,990
Oregon
$95,240
$111,030
Maryland
$91,820
$106,000
New Jersey
$90,610
$129,280
Arizona
$89,480
$116,820
North Carolina
$86,650
$102,980
Missouri
$83,090
$102,540
Montana
$81,330
$101,950
Tennessee
$81,190
$102,720

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn more nationally. The median is $90,150 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists versus $103,410 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, a difference of $13K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 12.5% projected growth, compared to 8.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists typically requires bachelor's degree. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists at $111,530/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Occupational Health and Safety Specialists vs. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists earn $111,530 vs. $101,940 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary breakdownView →Full Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists by take-home payExplore →How to become a occupational health and safety specialistsGuide →How to become a medical scientists, except epidemiologistsGuide →