Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Occupational Health and Safety Technicians earn a median salary of $58,440 per year, ranking in the top 51% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +8.5% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do occupational health and safety technicians earn?

The median annual wage for occupational health and safety technicians is $58,440. That puts occupational health and safety technicians at #416 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is occupational health and safety technicians a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for occupational health and safety technicians is +8.5%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 31K positions in 2024 to 34K in 2034, a net change of 3K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.

What do occupational health and safety technicians do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working occupational health and safety technicians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
2. 2.Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
3. 3.Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
4. 4.Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
5. 5.Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.
6. 6.Recommend corrective measures to be applied based on results of environmental contaminant analyses.
7. 7.Review records or reports concerning laboratory results, staffing, floor plans, fire inspections, or sanitation to gather information for the development or enforcement of safety activities.
8. 8.Educate the public about health issues or enforce health legislation to prevent disease, to promote health, or to help people understand health protection procedures and regulations.

Top skills for occupational health and safety technicians

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become occupational health and safety technician?

The standard path into occupational health and safety technicians begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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Common questions parents ask about occupational health and safety technicians