Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Also called Product Safety Engineer, Safety and Health Consultant, Safety Engineer, or System Safety Engineer
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors do
You figure out how people get hurt at work or by a product, then redesign the job or the thing so it stops happening.
Health and safety engineers study how machines, chemicals, buildings, and people interact, and then find the places where someone could get hurt. Some work inside factories, warehouses, or construction companies, looking at how the work gets done. Others work on products, testing whether a tool, toy, or appliance could injure someone, including when it is used the wrong way.
A lot of the job is investigating and explaining. When an accident or a work-related illness happens, you dig into why. Then you write up what you found and recommend fixes, and you often have to talk people through safety laws and convince them the change is worth it. It mixes engineering, chemistry, and a real understanding of how people behave.
A day in the life
Most of your day is indoors at a desk with heating and air conditioning, working through email, reports, and regulations. You read a new rule and work out what it means for your company's equipment. Then you walk out to the production area where the machines and workers are, put on safety gear like a hard hat, glasses, or boots, and watch a process you flagged last week. You talk with the operators about what actually happens, not just what the manual says. Back at your desk, you write up an accident investigation: what went wrong, why, and what should change. Later you run a short training session on using protective equipment. You work alongside engineers and managers, but the writing and analysis are largely your own.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓Like figuring out why something failed instead of just fixing it
- ✓Can write clearly and explain rules to people who find them annoying
- ✓Enjoy being both at a desk and out where the real work happens
- ✓Notice small details that others walk past
- ✓Want engineering work that involves people, not just machines
You might not like it if you…
- –Dislike reading dense regulations and keeping up as they change
- –Get uncomfortable delivering findings people do not want to hear
- –Want to avoid paperwork, reports, and email
- –Prefer a job you can start without a four-year degree
How people get in
- 1Build a base in high school with math, physics, and chemistry, since the work draws on all three.
- 2Earn a bachelor's degree, the typical entry education here. Engineering programs and environmental programs both lead to this work.
- 3Look for internships or paid work placements arranged through your college (sometimes called co-ops) in manufacturing, construction, or product testing, so you see real worksites before you graduate.
- 4Get comfortable with technical writing and speaking, because reading comprehension, writing, and speaking are among the most-used skills in this job.
- 5Start in a role where you learn from experienced safety staff, often as an assistant or junior engineer, and build knowledge of the specific industry you are in.
- 6Keep learning safety laws and industrial processes over time, since staying current is part of the job description itself.
Who tends to enjoy it
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Official task list
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers. (O*NET)
- Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
- Conduct research to evaluate safety levels for products.
- Evaluate product designs for safety.
- Conduct or coordinate worker training in areas such as safety laws and regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, and use of safety equipment.
- Maintain and apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes.
- Recommend procedures for detection, prevention, and elimination of physical, chemical, or other product hazards.
- Report or review findings from accident investigations, facilities inspections, or environmental testing.
- Evaluate potential health hazards or damage that could occur from product misuse.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
What you'll need to know
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
How much Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors make
The median pay for Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors in the U.S. is $115,160 a year ($55.36 an hour). Most earn between $68,420 and $171,250. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in California ($131,540) and lowest in West Virginia ($76,700).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $105,490 | 570 |
| Alaska | $102,690 | 110 |
| Arizona | $106,370 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $101,590 | 130 |
| California | $131,540 | 2,470 |
| Colorado | $120,950 | 210 |
| Connecticut | $115,640 | 270 |
| Delaware | $118,440 | 50 |
| Florida | $101,790 | 770 |
| Georgia | $105,880 | 350 |
| Hawaii | $82,300 | 70 |
| Idaho | $98,860 | 250 |
| Illinois | $111,370 | 230 |
| Indiana | $83,240 | 440 |
| Iowa | $106,350 | 230 |
| Kansas | $102,690 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $107,760 | 300 |
| Louisiana | $118,490 | 370 |
| Maine | $82,140 | 70 |
| Maryland | $110,950 | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $131,210 | 750 |
| Michigan | $107,780 | 720 |
| Minnesota | $120,050 | 220 |
| Mississippi | $87,180 | 120 |
| Missouri | $89,820 | 250 |
| Montana | $97,670 | 60 |
| Nebraska | $103,230 | 90 |
| Nevada | $121,660 | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $130,500 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $119,370 | 430 |
| New Mexico | $94,640 | 340 |
| New York | $101,300 | 1,570 |
| North Carolina | $106,800 | 480 |
| Ohio | $129,560 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $102,890 | 620 |
| Oregon | $116,020 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $121,730 | 490 |
| Rhode Island | $94,620 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $104,120 | 280 |
| Texas | $123,440 | 4,320 |
| Utah | $106,980 | 260 |
| Virginia | $104,920 | 380 |
| Washington | $126,590 | 420 |
| West Virginia | $76,700 | 210 |
| Wisconsin | $92,700 | 250 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Engineering, Other 149 colleges
- Environmental 171 colleges
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 17-2111.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 17-2111. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.