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The differences between safety assistants 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 assistant, 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 $38,077 average annual salary of a safety assistant.
The top three skills for a safety assistant include patients, patient care and patient safety. The most important skills for a safety engineer are OSHA, safety standards, and safety program.
| Safety Assistant | Safety Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $38,077 | $74,228 |
| Hourly rate | $18.31 | $35.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 13,994 | 16,617 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Safety assistants help safety managers create and execute safety protocols. Typical duties include examining work areas, locating hazardous elements as well as keeping up with safety manuals and guidelines. Also, they interview injured employees, maintain first aid centers, and probe work safety incidents. Additionally, they direct regular audits with safety mentors to make certain that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies and procedures are followed. Primary job qualifications include knowledge in safety protocols, detail-oriented, organizational skills, teamwork, and time management. Another important requirement in this field is training in occupational hazards.
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 assistants and safety engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Assistant | Safety Engineer | |
| Average salary | $38,077 | $74,228 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $53,000 | Between $49,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Capco | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a safety assistant and a safety engineer in terms of educational background:
| Safety Assistant | Safety Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between safety assistants' and safety engineers' demographics:
| Safety Assistant | Safety Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.5% 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 Percentage | 7% | 4% |