Program safety manager vs safety consultant

The differences between program safety managers 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 program safety manager and a safety consultant. Additionally, a program safety manager has an average salary of $81,116, which is higher than the $72,011 average annual salary of a safety consultant.

The top three skills for a program safety manager include safety program, OSHA and corrective action. The most important skills for a safety consultant are OSHA, EHS, and safety procedures.

Program safety manager vs safety consultant overview

	Program Safety Manager	Safety Consultant
Yearly salary	$81,116	$72,011
Hourly rate	$39.00	$34.62
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	100,044	20,066
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	2	2

What does a program safety manager do?

A program safety manager is someone who manages and provides oversight of an organization's safety program. Program safety managers plan, enforce, and conduct preventive care, safety, and compliance training programs. The managers manage and maintain comprehensive environmental health and safety programs at project site locations or premises. They oversee all the aspects of industrial and safety hygiene for compliance with the NFPA, API, and OSHA standards. Also, they conduct hyperbaric chamber fire safety drills for staff response improvement.

What does a safety consultant do?

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.

Program safety manager vs safety consultant salary

Program safety managers and safety consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Program Safety Manager	Safety Consultant
Average salary	$81,116	$72,011
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $116,000	Between $46,000 And $111,000
Highest paying City	San Bruno, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	New Jersey
Best paying company	NVIDIA	Phillips 66
Best paying industry	Technology	Energy

Differences between program safety manager and safety consultant education

There are a few differences between a program safety manager and a safety consultant in terms of educational background:

	Program Safety Manager	Safety Consultant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Connecticut

Program safety manager vs safety consultant demographics

Here are the differences between program safety managers' and safety consultants' demographics:

	Program Safety Manager	Safety Consultant
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6%	Male, 82.0% Female, 18.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.7% 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%

Differences between program safety manager and safety consultant duties and responsibilities

Program safety manager example responsibilities.

Manage the procurement program of personal protective equipment; ensure adequate protection of workers and ensure OSHA compliance.
Collaborate with cross-functional team to successfully achieve initial ISO 14001certification.
Maintain all OSHA data and update company programs to adhere to policy.
Conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward EHS organizational objectives.
Partner with various departments to ensure relevant EHS training is successfully implement.
Provide oversight and technical guidance to facilities, systems, associate support equipment and operations to ensure adherence to safety guidelines.

Safety consultant example responsibilities.

Maintain and manage air and water permits for multiple industrial and commercial sites in accordance with EPA regulations.
Manage financial oversight and budget management including financial modeling and analysis, new products, travel, tools, and scheduling.
Perform facility and construction site audits confirming OSHA regulatory compliance, and ensuring occupational exposure limits are not exceed.
Provide regulatory compliance expertise for various customer markets in regard to EHS programs including industrial hygiene, environmental and safety programs.
Maintain require NFPA and OSHA certifications.
Experience with emergency responses such as first aid, CPR, spills and fire.

Program safety manager vs safety consultant skills

Common program safety manager skills

Safety Program, 14%
OSHA, 8%
Corrective Action, 6%
Oversight, 6%
Safety Procedures, 5%
Patient Safety, 4%

Common safety consultant skills

OSHA, 13%
EHS, 7%
Safety Procedures, 5%
Safety Audits, 4%
Safety Program, 4%
Corrective Action, 4%

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Program Safety Manager
Program Safety Manager vs Safety Consultant

Updated January 8, 2025

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