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The differences between process safety engineers and safety directors 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 director. Additionally, a safety director has an average salary of $85,687, which is higher than the $84,412 average annual salary of a process safety engineer.
The top three skills for a process safety engineer include safety management, OSHA and risk management. The most important skills for a safety director are OSHA, DOT, and safety procedures.
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Director | |
| Yearly salary | $84,412 | $85,687 |
| Hourly rate | $40.58 | $41.20 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 38,650 | 19,507 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| 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 director is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the business and its employees, enforcing strict safety standards, and facilitating safety drills and programs to avoid potential hazards within the office's premises. Safety directors inspect the building's premises, including the office's equipment and other systems, and perform immediate actions even for the smallest inconsistencies. They also create incident and audit reports to discuss with the management and implement or adjust regulations as needed.
Process safety engineers and safety directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Director | |
| Average salary | $84,412 | $85,687 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $129,000 | Between $55,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Orange, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | California Resources | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between a process safety engineer and a safety director in terms of educational background:
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between process safety engineers' and safety directors' demographics:
| Process Safety Engineer | Safety Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% | Male, 79.8% Female, 20.2% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |