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The differences between safety coordinators 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 coordinator, 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 $61,604 average annual salary of a safety coordinator.
The top three skills for a safety coordinator include OSHA, safety procedures and safety program. The most important skills for a safety engineer are OSHA, safety standards, and safety program.
| Safety Coordinator | Safety Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,604 | $74,228 |
| Hourly rate | $29.62 | $35.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 22,112 | 16,617 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
A safety coordinator is responsible for monitoring and evaluating daily operations and planning procedures to mitigate risks and improve safety regulations. Safety coordinators inspect building premises, individual workstations, as well as common areas to ensure that the arrangements are compliant with federal and state law safety protocols. They also conduct safety training and orientations to promote safety codes for each employee's practice. A safety coordinator also assesses the company's equipment and machinery to ensure its safety for everyone's use.
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 coordinators and safety engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Coordinator | Safety Engineer | |
| Average salary | $61,604 | $74,228 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $94,000 | Between $49,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Koppers | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a safety coordinator and a safety engineer in terms of educational background:
| Safety Coordinator | Safety Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between safety coordinators' and safety engineers' demographics:
| Safety Coordinator | Safety Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.9% 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% |