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The differences between process safety engineers and industrial hygienists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a process safety engineer and an industrial hygienist. Additionally, a process safety engineer has an average salary of $84,412, which is higher than the $68,173 average annual salary of an industrial hygienist.
The top three skills for a process safety engineer include safety management, OSHA and risk management. The most important skills for an industrial hygienist are OSHA, environmental health, and indoor air quality.
| Process Safety Engineer | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,412 | $68,173 |
| Hourly rate | $40.58 | $32.78 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 38,650 | 23,048 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A process safety engineer is responsible for conducting quality check procedures for the operational processes of the manufacturing and construction industries. Process safety engineers analyze practices to ensure that the methodologies adhere to safety standards and state regulations. They also inspect the tools and materials used, the budget needed for production, and timetables to strategize efficient ways in minimizing costs and risks. A process safety engineer records the process findings and suggests technical solutions to maximize productivity.
An Industrial Hygienist plans and conducts health programs to educate employees about cleanliness, safety, and sanitation in the workplace. They investigate adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, and other conditions that can affect employees' health, comfort, or efficiency.
Process safety engineers and industrial hygienists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Safety Engineer | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Average salary | $84,412 | $68,173 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $129,000 | Between $45,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Orange, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | California Resources | Exxon Mobil |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a process safety engineer and an industrial hygienist in terms of educational background:
| Process Safety Engineer | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Public Health |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between process safety engineers' and industrial hygienists' demographics:
| Process Safety Engineer | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% | Male, 74.0% Female, 26.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 12.6% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 9.8% White, 69.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |