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What is a product safety manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Patrick Lindsay

Product Safety Managers are responsible for ensuring product enforcement and safety, including all issues relating to securing and retaining approvals for all goods. They are responsible for preparing the company to produce a product that complies with the applicable requirements and regulations by staff who specify, plan, create, apply and promote products. They also coordinate actions to conform with the Product Inspection offerings.

On a daily basis, Product Safety Managers conduct safety workshops, evaluations, and checks to ensure enforcement, review results, determine corrective measures, and carry out follow-up reviews. They also plan, develop, and executes health maintenance, prevention, and security preparation activities. They must also guarantee that all testing is carried out in compliance with approved manuals, organizational rules and procedures, contract agreements, and sound technical standards.

Bachelor's degree in Safety, Health, Engineering, or related discipline is favored for this role. Most companies also prefer applicants who have at least four years of large-scale commercial, government, or industrial project management. It's advantageous for applicants who seek to work in this role to possess a certificate in First Aid, CPR, or related certification.

What's a day at work look like for a product safety manager?

Patrick LindsayPatrick Lindsay LinkedIn profile

Assistant Lecturer, Miami University

Sales is a good job out of college. Regardless of the company, the industry, the marketplace or geography, being in the customer interface is not only the best and quickest way to learn about a business but also to learn about business. They are exposed to the impact from and on all stakeholders. They learn about what a value proposition really is and the importance of Trust. They observe and learn the importance of relationships. And they grasp the importance of why over what and how. Finally, sales experience and success is almost universally transferable. Once a grad has a year to three developing competencies, skills and confidence, they can pursue virtually any other product or service in almost any company. They can pursue a next job in sales but also other areas like marketing, customer service, human resources, training, recruiting, et cetera. Employers are not emphasizing industry knowledge or experience like they once did. And many companies, from small local the largest global companies in their industries, insist their new college hires begin in sales (aka account management, business development, client acquisition).

Now, with the proper training (could be a major/minor but doesn't have to be if the graduate has developed a particular skill set) there are many available jobs for graduates that are technology-related. These are "good job" from a compensation and stability perspective. And any position with a global tech firm is a golden ticket.
ScoreProduct Safety ManagerUS Average
Salary
6.2

Avg. Salary $79,337

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.6

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 10.80%

Black or African American 4.76%

Hispanic or Latino 11.70%

Unknown 3.95%

White 68.62%

Gender

female 36.57%

male 63.43%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Product safety manager career paths

Key steps to become a product safety manager

  1. Explore product safety manager education requirements

    Most common product safety manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.4 %

    Master's

    15.0 %

    Associate

    11.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific product safety manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Risk Assessments10.75%
    FDA8.94%
    EU6.77%
    Regulatory Agencies6.70%
    Sops6.16%
  3. Complete relevant product safety manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New product safety managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a product safety manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real product safety manager resumes.
  4. Research product safety manager duties and responsibilities

    • Collaborate with cross-functional team to successfully achieve initial ISO 14001certification.
    • Respond to internal and external customer request for MSDS, PS, and regulatory issues.
    • Review and determine impact to MSDS.
    • Enter drug adverse events into the ARISg database.
  5. Apply for product safety manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a product safety manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first product safety manager job

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Average product safety manager salary

The average product safety manager salary in the United States is $79,337 per year or $38 per hour. Product safety manager salaries range between $45,000 and $138,000 per year.

Average product safety manager salary
$79,337 Yearly
$38.14 hourly

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Product safety manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

The interaction with all employees. Knowing everyday you job is to help all. Able to be the Go To Person who leads by example.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Helping people avoid accidents and correcting dangerous conditions.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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