Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Waco, TX make a median of $70,220 a year, or about $33.76 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.55), which stretches that salary to about $75,873 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $973/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $70K get you in Waco?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waco’s Regional Price Parity (92.55). 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
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What this looks like in Waco
Pay for occupational health and safety specialists in Waco runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $90K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $973/month, 20.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.55 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Waco can be a reasonable trade-off for occupational health and safety specialistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational health and safety specialists in metros near Waco, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $83K | $84K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $81K | $79K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $81K | $82K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $78K | $82K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waco, TX
Entry-level occupational health and safety specialists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $67K 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)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational health and safety specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waco?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 20.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $973/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational health and safety specialists in Waco?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational health and safety specialists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,789/month. At HUD’s $973/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Waco?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $70K here vs. $90K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Waco compare to the national average for occupational health and safety specialists?
Waco pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do occupational health and safety specialists make in Waco, TX?
The median is $70,220 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,490, and experienced occupational health and safety specialists can clear $113,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Waco?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,816/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $973/month, which eats 20.2% 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 Waco?
Waco has a Regional Price Parity of 92.55 (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 $75,873 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.