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What is a health & safety officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Nick Nichols Professor
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In a company, a health and safety officer is responsible for ensuring that all personnel adheres to the protocols and guidelines that aim to protect their well-being. That said, they play a significant role in making sure that the organization complies with all the laws and regulations on occupational health and safety. The duties of a health and safety officer include developing guidelines, educating personnel, and coordinating with regulatory bodies as needed. A big part of their job is to also conduct health and safety training periodically or whenever new protocols are to be implemented.

To become a health and safety officer, one usually needs to have a degree in business, occupational safety, and health, public health, or something similar. Needless to say, one would also need extensive knowledge on occupational safety as well as the current protocols that the company has in place. In terms of salary, the average income of a health and safety officer is around $31 an hour, which makes up to about $64,000 a year.

What general advice would you give to a Health & Safety Officer?

Dr. Nick Nichols ProfessorDr. Nick Nichols Professor LinkedIn Profile

Professor, Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Obtain as many certifications as you can. Certified Safety Professionals (CSPs) are certainly in demand, but other certifications such as first responder training, confined space training, OSHA General Industry, Construction Safety and Recordkeeping certifications will make entrants more marketable to potential employers. It will also make them more flexible if they should decide to seek out new opportunities in the field. Additionally, the ability to speak fluid Spanish is more and more becoming a job requirement for many employers. As I often tell many of my advisees, "if you decide to learn the Spanish language, you will enhance your opportunities for competitive positions and salaries almost exponentially."
ScoreHealth & Safety OfficerUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $56,507

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.9

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.23%

Asian 5.75%

Black or African American 10.08%

Hispanic or Latino 14.70%

Unknown 6.21%

White 62.02%

Gender

female 20.31%

male 79.69%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress Level
7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.6

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Health & Safety Officer career paths

Key steps to become a health & safety officer

  1. Explore health & safety officer education requirements

    Most common health & safety officer degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.8 %

    Associate

    18.5 %

    Master's

    11.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific health & safety officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    OSHA11.82%
    Site Safety5.46%
    Em-3855.17%
    Safety Program5.01%
    Fall Protection4.78%
  3. Complete relevant health & safety officer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New health & safety officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a health & safety officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real health & safety officer resumes.
  4. Research health & safety officer duties and responsibilities

    • Lead cross functional team on FMEA analysis, root cause analysis to improve the existing process.
    • Provide regulatory guidance of OSHA health and safety regulations and establish site interpretations of those regulations.
    • Organize students' information for CPR certification and parking registration.
    • Plan, organize, and host training sessions for CPR certification.
  5. Prepare your health & safety officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your health & safety officer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a health & safety officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Health & Safety Officer Resume templates

    Build a professional Health & Safety Officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Health & Safety Officer resume.
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
    Health & Safety Officer Resume
  6. Apply for health & safety officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a health & safety officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Health & Safety Officer Job

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Average health & safety officer salary

The average Health & Safety Officer salary in the United States is $56,507 per year or $27 per hour. Health & safety officer salaries range between $37,000 and $85,000 per year.

Average Health & Safety Officer Salary
$56,507 Yearly
$27.17 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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