Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between environmental safety specialists and safety officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an environmental safety specialist and a safety officer. Additionally, an environmental safety specialist has an average salary of $51,267, which is higher than the $46,336 average annual salary of a safety officer.
The top three skills for an environmental safety specialist include OSHA, hazardous materials and corrective action. The most important skills for a safety officer are OSHA, patients, and patrol.
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $51,267 | $46,336 |
| Hourly rate | $24.65 | $22.28 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 31,038 | 68,487 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An environmental safety specialist is responsible for promoting environmental sustainability by ensuring that the production and manufacturing operations of an organization would not harm the environment's condition in any way. Environmental safety specialists monitor the safety and efficiency of the company's processes to minimize risks and hazards that may occur in the workplace. They also plan and facilitate safety training and programs for all employees to reiterate safety guidelines and regulations while within the premises.
A safety officer specializes in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for employees in a building or establishment. Aside from adhering to the safety standards and regulations within a company, a safety officer also has to craft and improve policies that prioritize the physical and mental health of workers. Furthermore, it is essential to implement safety programs by educating workers on various precautionary measures, performing regular inspections of equipment and machines, and ensuring the proper disposal of any hazardous waste materials.
Environmental safety specialists and safety officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Officer | |
| Average salary | $51,267 | $46,336 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $72,000 | Between $29,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Toledo, OH | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Amgen |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Government |
There are a few differences between an environmental safety specialist and a safety officer in terms of educational background:
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Occupational Safety And Health | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between environmental safety specialists' and safety officers' demographics:
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Officer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |