Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety.
Is health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors a good career?
It scores 27/100 and ranks #178 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($115,160 vs $61,390)
Possible tradeoffs
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
What health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors earn between $90,930 and $142,980 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors jobs
No live health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors openings will appear here — each shown against the $115,160 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspector
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow as fast as average through 2034.
Education
High school students interested in health and safety engineering should take classes in mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; computer science; and sciences, such as chemistry and physics.
Health and safety engineers typically require a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, such as chemical, mechanical, industrial, or systems engineering. Bachelor’s degree programs include academic and laboratory coursework in subjects such as occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and environmental safety. Employers may prefer to hire graduates of engineering programs accredited by a professional association.
Colleges and universities may offer internships or cooperative-education programs with businesses that allow students to gain practical experience while completing their education.
Some colleges and universities offer 5-year programs that lead to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Licensure is not required for entry-level health and safety engineer positions. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public.
State licensure typically requires a bachelor’s or higher degree in engineering, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam.
Each state issues its own license. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.
Some states require fire protection engineers to have a license. Check with your state
Although certification is not required, some health and safety engineers choose to earn a professional credential.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Health and safety engineers prepare and present training materials to workers. They must be able to clearly explain regulations and procedures to a variety of audiences.
Critical-thinking skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to interpret regulations and their intent so that they can propose designs for specific worksites.
Interpersonal skills. Health and safety engineers interact with workers across an organization to evaluate safety programs, identify potential hazards, and recommend corrective actions. They also must be able to develop a rapport with employers and employees when interviewing them during investigations.
Observational skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to identify hazards before those hazards damage property or health.
Problem-solving skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to identify issues with safety processes or products and recommend ways to improve them.
Related occupations
How much do health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors make?
The national median wage is $115,160 a year, with the middle half earning between $90,930 and $142,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 27 of 100 and ranks #178 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +4.4% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspector?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.
Where do health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors earn the most?
Among states, California pays the highest median ($131,540). Local pay for every state and metro is below.