Occupational Health and Safety Technicians vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: Who Earns More?
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists out-earn Occupational Health and Safety Technicians by $29K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Occupational Health and Safety Technicians land at $61,560 and Occupational Health and Safety Specialists at $90,150. The education gap is real: occupational health and safety technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while occupational health and safety specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians is Washington ($104,910); for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists it's District of Columbia ($111,530).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Occupational Health and Safety Technicians median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Occupational Health and Safety Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists earn more nationally. The median is $61,560 for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians versus $90,150 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, a difference of $29K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Occupational Health and Safety 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 8.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Occupational Health and Safety Technicians or Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?
Occupational Health and Safety 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 Occupational Health and Safety Technicians get paid the most?
Washington is the top-paying state for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians at $104,910/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 Technicians vs. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Occupational Health and Safety Technicians earn $104,910 vs. $102,920 for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.