Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Elkhart-Goshen, IN make a median of $71,560 a year, or about $34.4 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.33), which stretches that salary to about $79,221 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,183/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $72K get you in Elkhart-Goshen?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Elkhart-Goshen’s Regional Price Parity (90.33). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About occupational health and safety specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Elkhart-Goshen
Pay for occupational health and safety specialists in Elkhart-Goshen runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $90K. Rent runs $1,183/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational health and safety specialists in metros near Elkhart-Goshen, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $85K | $89K |
| Fort Wayne | $83K | $90K |
| Evansville | $91K | $99K |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $78K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Elkhart-Goshen, IN
Entry-level occupational health and safety specialists (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $112K | +24% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $104K | +15% | 3,390 |
| Washington | $103K | +14% | 3,570 |
| California | $103K | +14% | 16,230 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +13% | 200 |
| Colorado | $101K | +12% | 3,080 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | +12% | 610 |
| Alaska | $99K | +10% | 370 |
| Illinois | $98K | +9% | 2,900 |
| Maine | $98K | +8% | 600 |
| Minnesota | $97K | +8% | 2,460 |
| Connecticut | $96K | +7% | 1,090 |
| New York | $96K | +6% | 6,840 |
| Oregon | $95K | +6% | 1,820 |
| Hawaii | $95K | +5% | 640 |
| Nevada | $94K | +5% | 1,150 |
| Wyoming | $94K | +4% | 580 |
| North Dakota | $93K | +3% | 540 |
| Maryland | $92K | +2% | 2,160 |
| Ohio | $91K | +1% | 6,820 |
| Virginia | $91K | +1% | 3,910 |
| New Jersey | $91K | +1% | 3,830 |
| Utah | $90K | +0% | 1,230 |
| Louisiana | $90K | -1% | 2,380 |
| Arizona | $89K | -1% | 3,220 |
| Florida | $89K | -1% | 6,760 |
| South Dakota | $89K | -2% | 250 |
| South Carolina | $88K | -2% | 2,170 |
| Iowa | $88K | -3% | 1,310 |
| Vermont | $87K | -3% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $87K | -3% | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $87K | -4% | 730 |
| North Carolina | $87K | -4% | 4,670 |
| West Virginia | $87K | -4% | 1,020 |
| Kansas | $86K | -4% | 1,350 |
| Georgia | $85K | -5% | 3,220 |
| Wisconsin | $85K | -6% | 2,250 |
| New Mexico | $85K | -6% | 840 |
| Mississippi | $84K | -6% | 1,140 |
| Michigan | $84K | -7% | 3,350 |
| Nebraska | $84K | -7% | 630 |
| Kentucky | $84K | -7% | 2,480 |
| Indiana | $83K | -7% | 3,870 |
| Missouri | $83K | -8% | 2,660 |
| Alabama | $82K | -9% | 2,510 |
| Montana | $81K | -10% | 720 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -10% | 2,690 |
| Delaware | $81K | -10% | 600 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -11% | 1,690 |
| Texas | $80K | -12% | 17,920 |
| Arkansas | $73K | -19% | 850 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track occupational health and safety specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Elkhart-Goshen numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational health and safety specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Elkhart-Goshen?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,183/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational health and safety specialists in Elkhart-Goshen?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational health and safety specialists typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,244/month. At HUD’s $1,183/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is occupational health and safety specialist a high-paying job in Elkhart-Goshen?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $72K here vs. $90K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Elkhart-Goshen compare to the national average for occupational health and safety specialists?
Elkhart-Goshen pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do occupational health and safety specialists make in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?
The median is $71,560 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,070, and experienced occupational health and safety specialists can clear $117,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Elkhart-Goshen?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,712/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,183/month, which eats 25.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a occupational health and safety specialists salary go in Elkhart-Goshen?
Elkhart-Goshen has a Regional Price Parity of 90.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational health and safety specialists salary is worth about $79,221 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational health and safety specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.