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Best states for an occupational health and safety specialist
Quoted expert
Halaevalu Ofahengaue Vakalahi
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like occupational health and safety specialists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for occupational health and safety specialists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Idaho is the best state for occupational health and safety specialists, while Maryland and Connecticut are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Idaho has a median salary of $68,667 and Maryland has the highest median salary among all 50 states for occupational health and safety specialists.
We figured that the best places for occupational health and safety specialist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for occupational health and safety specialists, and the Northeast is the worst. Silver Spring, MD is the best city in the country for occupational health and safety specialist jobs, where as Idaho is the best state in the country.
10 best states for occupational health and safety specialists in 2025
1. Idaho
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 352 Average annual salary: $68,667 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
2. Michigan
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 1,630 Average annual salary: $68,179 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
3. New Hampshire
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 306 Average annual salary: $70,878 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
4. Maryland
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 1,078 Average annual salary: $77,844 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. Delaware
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 213 Average annual salary: $71,764 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
6. South Dakota
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 192 Average annual salary: $65,704 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
7. Rhode Island
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 193 Average annual salary: $70,437 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
8. West Virginia
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 183 Average annual salary: $71,965 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
9. Connecticut
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 289 Average annual salary: $74,158 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.58
10. Virginia
Total occupational health and safety specialist jobs: 1,531 Average annual salary: $70,400 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Occupational health and safety specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an occupational health and safety specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an occupational health and safety specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $68,667 | $43,000 | 1,716,943 | 352 |
| 2 | Michigan | $68,179 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,630 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $70,878 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 306 |
| 4 | Maryland | $77,844 | $49,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,078 |
| 5 | Delaware | $71,764 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 213 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $65,704 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 192 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $70,437 | $46,000 | 1,059,639 | 193 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $71,965 | $45,000 | 1,815,857 | 183 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $74,158 | $48,000 | 3,588,184 | 289 |
| 10 | Virginia | $70,400 | $44,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,531 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $63,812 | $42,000 | 755,393 | 171 |
| 12 | Washington | $64,962 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,553 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $63,696 | $40,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,824 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $75,473 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 257 |
| 15 | Nevada | $66,246 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 322 |
| 16 | Vermont | $64,915 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 129 |
| 17 | Ohio | $61,052 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,789 |
| 18 | Oregon | $66,092 | $42,000 | 4,142,776 | 387 |
| 19 | Indiana | $58,074 | $36,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,533 |
| 20 | Iowa | $58,126 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 842 |
| 21 | Alaska | $67,909 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 118 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $64,401 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 891 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $63,508 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 221 |
| 24 | Utah | $63,598 | $40,000 | 3,101,833 | 388 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $56,058 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 141 |
| 26 | New York | $67,022 | $43,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,084 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $61,544 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,175 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $61,591 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 301 |
| 29 | California | $63,563 | $40,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,229 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $57,763 | $37,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,054 |
| 31 | Montana | $63,920 | $41,000 | 1,050,493 | 95 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $51,283 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 197 |
| 33 | Maine | $62,236 | $42,000 | 1,335,907 | 115 |
| 34 | Arizona | $57,116 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,217 |
| 35 | Colorado | $62,347 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 943 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $64,953 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 566 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $56,943 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 561 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $52,782 | $33,000 | 4,684,333 | 692 |
| 39 | Illinois | $61,197 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,050 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $50,768 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 946 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $61,352 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 831 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $54,719 | $35,000 | 1,920,076 | 370 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $52,308 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 639 |
| 44 | Alabama | $50,080 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 849 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $48,876 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 543 |
| 46 | Missouri | $47,493 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,130 |
| 47 | Texas | $50,929 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,215 |
| 48 | Kansas | $45,633 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 607 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $50,410 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 459 |
| 50 | Florida | $50,661 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,766 |
| 51 | Georgia | $47,661 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,008 |
Highest paying states for occupational health and safety specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Occupational Health And Safety Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $68,667 |
| 2 | Michigan | $68,179 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $70,878 |
| 4 | Maryland | $77,844 |
| 5 | Delaware | $71,764 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $65,704 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $70,437 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $71,965 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $74,158 |
| 10 | Virginia | $70,400 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $63,812 |
| 12 | Washington | $64,962 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $63,696 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $75,473 |
| 15 | Nevada | $66,246 |
| 16 | Vermont | $64,915 |
| 17 | Ohio | $61,052 |
| 18 | Oregon | $66,092 |
| 19 | Indiana | $58,074 |
| 20 | Iowa | $58,126 |
| 21 | Alaska | $67,909 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $64,401 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $63,508 |
| 24 | Utah | $63,598 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $56,058 |
| 26 | New York | $67,022 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $61,544 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $61,591 |
| 29 | California | $63,563 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $57,763 |
| 31 | Montana | $63,920 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $51,283 |
| 33 | Maine | $62,236 |
| 34 | Arizona | $57,116 |
| 35 | Colorado | $62,347 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $64,953 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $56,943 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $52,782 |
| 39 | Illinois | $61,197 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $50,768 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $61,352 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $54,719 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $52,308 |
| 44 | Alabama | $50,080 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $48,876 |
| 46 | Missouri | $47,493 |
| 47 | Texas | $50,929 |
| 48 | Kansas | $45,633 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $50,410 |
| 50 | Florida | $50,661 |
| 51 | Georgia | $47,661 |
Expert opinions on the best states for occupational health and safety specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for occupational health and safety specialists to find work opportunities?
Halaevalu Ofahengaue Vakalahi
Dean and Professor, Hawai'i Pacific University
The aftermath of COVID, and the recovery phase, will yield increased employment opportunities in social work across the country and the globe. Social work is a rich and broad field, as our curriculum educates students in practice, policy, research, theory, and the signature pedagogy of field education/practicum. You can't go wrong with that span of the knowledge base. It is a versatile degree for any career of interest.
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Updated January 8, 2025