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The differences between occupational health and safety specialists and health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an occupational health and safety specialist and a health specialist. Additionally, an occupational health and safety specialist has an average salary of $59,335, which is higher than the $47,740 average annual salary of a health specialist.
The top three skills for an occupational health and safety specialist include occupational safety, safety issues and trend analysis. The most important skills for a health specialist are patients, health education, and public health.
| Occupational Health And Safety Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,335 | $47,740 |
| Hourly rate | $28.53 | $22.95 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 84,204 | 72,463 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An occupational health and safety specialist's role is to inspect and analyze work environments and procedures, ensuring compliance with the company's safety rules and regulations. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies and programs that prioritize employees' safety and welfare, inspect machines and equipment, conduct safety demonstrations and training programs, investigate workforce accidents, and implement precautionary measures. There are also instances when an occupational health and safety specialist must produce progress reports and presentations, suggest improvements in the system, and collect samples for laboratory testing and analysis.
A health specialist is primarily responsible for the health and welfare care of patients in a community or medical facility. They are also responsible for providing consultations, conducting assessments and examinations, providing prescriptions, and recommending care methods. A health specialist may also diagnose and treat ailments and injuries, coordinate with other health experts, and discuss conditions with patients and their families. Furthermore, a health specialist may participate in public discussions to raise awareness of health issues and lifestyles.
Occupational health and safety specialists and health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Occupational Health And Safety Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $59,335 | $47,740 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $87,000 | Between $31,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Silver Spring, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Genentech | City of Seattle |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between an occupational health and safety specialist and a health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Occupational Health And Safety Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Occupational Safety And Health | Psychology |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between occupational health and safety specialists' and health specialists' demographics:
| Occupational Health And Safety Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |