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Safety advisor vs safety engineer

The differences between safety advisors and safety engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a safety advisor, becoming a safety engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a safety engineer has an average salary of $74,228, which is higher than the $55,939 average annual salary of a safety advisor.

The top three skills for a safety advisor include OSHA, risk assessments and safety procedures. The most important skills for a safety engineer are OSHA, safety standards, and safety program.

Safety advisor vs safety engineer overview

Safety AdvisorSafety Engineer
Yearly salary$55,939$74,228
Hourly rate$26.89$35.69
Growth rate6%4%
Number of jobs53,42516,617
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4542
Years of experience62

What does a safety advisor do?

Safety Advisors are responsible for overseeing a safe workplace environment and ensuring compliance with safety policies and regulations of an organization. Their duties include conducting risk assessments, demonstrating safe operational procedures, conducting site inspection as well as developing health and safety policies. They also maintain inspection findings records, produce improvement and management reports, manage hazardous substance disposal, and undertake safe equipment installation. Safety Advisors ensure workplace adhere to legislation and advise on areas related to machinery safeguards, occupational diseases, noise as well as fire regulations.

What does a safety engineer do?

The duties of a safety engineer depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the implementation of the safety policies and regulations in a company by conducting regular inspections and maintenance checks, coordinating with department personnel to gather data, assessing risks, and arranging precautionary measures. A safety engineer must also address issues and concerns, responding to them in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, there are instances when they have to lead safety orientations and seminars to maintain a safe and productive environment for everyone.

Safety advisor vs safety engineer salary

Safety advisors and safety engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Safety AdvisorSafety Engineer
Average salary$55,939$74,228
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $89,000Between $49,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNorth Dakota
Best paying companyBP America IncApple
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between safety advisor and safety engineer education

There are a few differences between a safety advisor and a safety engineer in terms of educational background:

Safety AdvisorSafety Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorBusinessMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut

Safety advisor vs safety engineer demographics

Here are the differences between safety advisors' and safety engineers' demographics:

Safety AdvisorSafety Engineer
Average age4542
Gender ratioMale, 84.2% Female, 15.8%Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%4%

Differences between safety advisor and safety engineer duties and responsibilities

Safety advisor example responsibilities.

  • Work with engineering team and local fire department to achieve NFPA and API standards.
  • Lead cross functional team on FMEA analysis, root cause analysis to improve the existing process.
  • Implement and administer OSHA safety compliance program.
  • Improve standardization of EHS programs including documentation, procedures and training.
  • Provide project management of EHS relate projects including site remediation and maintenance of ongoing site monitoring.
  • Simplify equipment-specific isolation procedures to allow for maximum operator productivity in compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147.
  • Show more

Safety engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage hazardous and special waste programs and profiles including audits/inspections, vendor compliance, documentation and recordkeeping.
  • Develop SWPPP and SPCC programs.
  • Design new Lockout/Tag-out (LOTO) system for production floor and facilities.
  • Direct subcontractors in safely deploying spill response equipment to enforce EPA / TDEQ regulations.
  • Provide safety support for construction projects -Conduct audits for LOTO, environmental, IH surveys, safe work practices etc.
  • Create site-specific EHS orientations for contractors.
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Safety advisor vs safety engineer skills

Common safety advisor skills
  • OSHA, 9%
  • Risk Assessments, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Related Training, 4%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • Contractor Safety, 4%
Common safety engineer skills
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Safety Standards, 6%
  • Safety Program, 5%
  • Safety Regulations, 4%
  • ISO, 4%
  • Corrective Action, 4%

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