Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Massachusetts make a median of $103,970 a year, or about $49.99 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $103,877 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 35.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $104K get you in Massachusetts?
About occupational health and safety specialists
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for occupational health and safety specialists, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $90K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 36.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level occupational health and safety specialists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $106K | +2% | 2,720 |
| Worcester | $99K | -5% | 300 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $91K | -12% | 70 |
| Springfield | $88K | -15% | 150 |
| Barnstable Town | $87K | -17% | 50 |
| Pittsfield | $85K | -18% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational health and safety specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational health and safety specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 36.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational health and safety specialists in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational health and safety specialists typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,109/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $104K here vs. $90K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for occupational health and safety specialists?
Massachusetts pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational health and safety specialists make in Massachusetts?
The median is $103,970 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,490, and experienced occupational health and safety specialists can clear $153,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,361/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 36.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a occupational health and safety specialists salary go in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational health and safety specialists salary is worth about $103,877 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.