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The differences between process safety engineers and safety consultants 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 a safety consultant. Additionally, a process safety engineer has an average salary of $84,412, which is higher than the $72,011 average annual salary of a safety consultant.
The top three skills for a process safety engineer include safety management, OSHA and risk management. The most important skills for a safety consultant are OSHA, EHS, and safety procedures.
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $84,412 | $72,011 |
| Hourly rate | $40.58 | $34.62 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 38,650 | 20,066 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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.
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. They must also develop strategies to provide safety information to workers, creating information programs as necessary. Furthermore, as a safety consultant, it is essential to lead the implementation of new guidelines and policies, ensuring workforce compliance.
Process safety engineers and safety consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Consultant | |
| Average salary | $84,412 | $72,011 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $129,000 | Between $46,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Orange, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | California Resources | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a process safety engineer and a safety consultant in terms of educational background:
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between process safety engineers' and safety consultants' demographics:
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% | Male, 82.0% Female, 18.0% |
| 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, 5.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |