Food safety director vs safety officer

The differences between food safety directors and safety officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a food safety director, becoming a safety officer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a food safety director has an average salary of $69,299, which is higher than the $46,336 average annual salary of a safety officer.

The top three skills for a food safety director include food service, FDA and HACCP. The most important skills for a safety officer are OSHA, patients, and patrol.

Food safety director vs safety officer overview

	Food Safety Director	Safety Officer
Yearly salary	$69,299	$46,336
Hourly rate	$33.32	$22.28
Growth rate	10%	6%
Number of jobs	141,051	68,487
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age	39	45
Years of experience	4	6

What does a food safety director do?

Food safety directors implement regulations and standards in various facilities. As a food safety director, you are responsible for training other inspectors who help inspect the facility and make detailed reports from which you determine how best to maintain safety standards. You will maintain documentation of day-to-day activities, making sure products meet the outlined criteria, educate suppliers, conduct regular safety audits, and promote smooth workflow.

What does a safety officer do?

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.

Food safety director vs safety officer salary

Food safety directors and safety officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Food Safety Director	Safety Officer
Average salary	$69,299	$46,336
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $137,000	Between $29,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City	Concord, NH	New York, NY
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	New York
Best paying company	CyberCoders	Amgen
Best paying industry	Media	Government

Differences between food safety director and safety officer education

There are a few differences between a food safety director and a safety officer in terms of educational background:

	Food Safety Director	Safety Officer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Cornell University	California State University - Bakersfield

Food safety director vs safety officer demographics

Here are the differences between food safety directors' and safety officers' demographics:

	Food Safety Director	Safety Officer
Average age	39	45
Gender ratio	Male, 58.9% Female, 41.1%	Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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	10%	7%

Differences between food safety director and safety officer duties and responsibilities

Food safety director example responsibilities.

Manage operations and provide support to a team of 245 union employees at various elementary, middle and high school cafeterias.
Prepare HACCP analysis report and provide reports for the areas not meeting the quality standards.
Supervise culinary selection, catering, event planning, and baking/cooking functions and oversee menu development.
Assist with the development and execution of HACCP plans specific to projects and special events.
Ensure collaboration between interdisciplinary teams including the clinical, culinary, and patient food service management staff to improve department efficiency.
Assist in directing total food service operation in accordance with USDA policies and procedures.

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Safety officer example responsibilities.

Manage safety coordination with EHS and owner representatives.
Manage and facilitate extensive Safety/Security and HAZMAT training for all personnel.
Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations to include OSHA and NFPA guidelines.
Prepare clients for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification.
Maintain cleanliness of all equipment for maintenance and inspections.
Give applicants full CDL exam and submit appropriate paperwork to DDS.

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Food safety director vs safety officer skills

Common food safety director skills

Food Service, 10%
FDA, 7%
HACCP, 7%
Continuous Improvement, 6%
Culinary, 6%
Fsma, 5%

Common safety officer skills

OSHA, 8%
Patients, 7%
Patrol, 6%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Safety Program, 5%
Risk Management, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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