How to hire a health & safety officer

How to hire a health & safety officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step health & safety officer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a health & safety officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new health & safety officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a health & safety officer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the health & safety officer you need to hire. Certain health & safety officer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A health & safety officer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, health & safety officers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of health & safety officers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Health & Safety Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Health & Safety Officer	Occupational health and safety specialists analyze many types of work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment... Show more	$17-40
   Safety Consultant	A safety consultant specializes in establishing safety guidelines and regulations for a company to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Their responsibilities revolve around understanding company operations, assessing existing safety programs to identify areas needing improvement, and recommending solutions through reports and presentations... Show more	$22-53
   Safety Representative	A safety representative is responsible for reiterating safety protocols and regulations in the workplace to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. Safety representatives facilitate training and programs for the employees and inform them of any communications related to their safety and wellbeing... Show more	$15-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • OSHA
   • Site Safety
   • Em-385
   • Safety Program
   • Fall Protection
   • SSHO
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Training
   • Safety Regulations
   • CPR
   • CFR
   • Corrective Action
   • Safety Policies
   • Safety Issues

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Develop metrics showing departmental and site EHS performances and present monthly findings to executive management.
   • Conduct internal audits of EHS programs and provide recommendations regarding the effectiveness of internal controls and processes.

   More health & safety officer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your health & safety officer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A health & safety officer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, health & safety officers' average salary in florida is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level health & safety officers earn 56% less than senior-level health & safety officers.
   • Certifications. A health & safety officer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a health & safety officer's salary.

   Average health & safety officer salary

   $56,507yearly

   $27.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level health & safety officer salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average health & safety officer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$72,927	$35
   2	Washington	$69,569	$33
   3	New York	$66,716	$32
   4	Massachusetts	$62,966	$30
   5	Maryland	$58,315	$28
   6	Idaho	$52,364	$25
   7	Colorado	$50,675	$24
   8	Indiana	$49,615	$24
   9	Ohio	$49,320	$24
   10	Iowa	$48,906	$24
   11	Texas	$47,489	$23
   12	North Carolina	$47,373	$23
   13	Tennessee	$45,304	$22
   14	Missouri	$44,699	$21
   15	Kansas	$44,181	$21
   16	South Carolina	$42,910	$21
   17	Louisiana	$42,635	$21
   18	Alabama	$41,497	$20
   19	Georgia	$38,303	$18
   20	Florida	$38,091	$18

   Average health & safety officer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	24M Technologies	$108,498	$52.16
   2	CITGO Petroleum	$103,388	$49.71
   3	John Deere	$75,819	$36.45
   4	Fluor Corporation	$74,748	$35.94	11
   5	Goldbelt Falcon	$72,679	$34.94
   6	Bering Straits	$71,816	$34.53	8
   7	Johnson Controls	$70,569	$33.93	8
   8	AECOM	$66,890	$32.16	58
   9	Haskell	$66,115	$31.79	1
   10	Stronghold Engineering	$65,374	$31.43
   11	The Korte Company	$64,595	$31.06	2
   12	TechFlow	$63,602	$30.58
   13	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$62,939	$30.26
   14	Triton Marine Construction	$62,898	$30.24
   15	Alfred University	$61,850	$29.74
   16	EMCOR Group	$61,409	$29.52	62
   17	Service Employees International Union Local 205	$59,316	$28.52
   18	P&S Construction	$59,262	$28.49
   19	Ventura County Community Foundation	$58,127	$27.95
   20	WakeMed	$57,237	$27.52

4. Writing a health & safety officer job description

   A good health & safety officer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a health & safety officer job description:

   Health & safety officer job description example

   Duties include but are not limited to maintenance and implementation of GLC’s workplace IIPP program, and development and oversight of project specific programs (SSSP’s/AHA’s/JHA’s/PTHA’s). Conducts safety training, including new hire safety orientation, field safety training for Company and subcontractors, and mandatory training including annual Fall Prevention Training, Forklift & Aerial Lift Certification, Bloodborne Pathogens, Global Harmonization System, Respiratory Protection, and Excavation Trenching. Conducts regular walk-thru inspections of construction areas in the designated region. Performs safety audits and inspects facilities, including machinery, tools, housekeeping, signage, job site tailgate logs, and safety equipment to ensure safety regulation and Company compliance. Identifies, documents, and recommends resolutions of hazardous/potentially hazardous conditions and ensures corrections are made. Develop, review and implement EHS policies, programs, and procedures to be used throughout the company. Provide regular review and improvement of existing EHS programs, procedures, and policies. Ensure compliance with country, federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to environment and occupational health and safety. Create and maintain required EHS permits. Identify new and emerging EHS regulatory requirements; develop and implement programs and procedures to ensure compliance. Perform accident and incident investigations and recommend appropriate corrective actions. Provide follow-up to action plans from audits, self-inspections, and accident/incident investigations. Own the Emergency Response Team (ERT) at the local site(s). Supports and promotes the Company’s strong safety culture, both internally and externally.
   Experience/Education
   • Minimum 10 years’ experience managing safety programs in civil construction, remediation, process, or similar construction companies w/ CSP or CIH certification (Required).
   • Strong computer aptitude, including fluency with MS Office; PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Visio. Adobe applications and Office 365.
   • OSHA 30 Hour Construction
   • OSHA 40 Hour HAZWOPER
   • Valid Driver’s License and ability to drive to project sites with company vehicles. Certifications and Training Qualifications – Preferred / Desired
   • OSHA 500 Certification – Outreach trainer
   • OSHA level courses related to construction and remediation
   • EM385-1-1 related courses
   • MSHA related courses
   • CHST – Certified Safety & Health Technician
   • CSP and/or CIH

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right health & safety officer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your health & safety officer job on Zippia to find and recruit health & safety officer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with health & safety officer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new health & safety officer

   Once you've decided on a perfect health & safety officer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new health & safety officer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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