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Job outlook for safety directors in the United States
Safety director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected safety director job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 800 new jobs for safety directors are projected over the next decade.
Safety director salaries have increased 9% for safety directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 19,185 safety directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 19,507 active safety director job openings in the US.
The average safety director salary is $85,687.
Are safety director jobs in demand?
Safety Director job and salary trends over time
Safety Director jobs over time
Safety Director job growth rate over time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,185 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 19,949 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 21,693 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 31,312 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 30,028 | 0.01% |
Average safety director salary over time
Safety Director salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,687 | $41.20 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $83,114 | $39.96 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $81,041 | $38.96 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $80,477 | $38.69 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $78,850 | $37.91 | +2.5% |
Safety Director jobs by state
Most common states for safety directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 631 | 20% |
| 2 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 549 | 18% |
| 3 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 667 | 14% |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 508 | 13% |
| 5 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 564 | 12% |
| 6 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 357 | 12% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 53 | 8% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 390 | 4% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 51 | 4% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 26 | 4% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 291 | 3% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 274 | 3% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 236 | 3% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 179 | 3% |
| 15 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 172 | 3% |
| 16 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 133 | 3% |
| 17 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 130 | 3% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 118 | 3% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 105 | 3% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 22 | 3% |
Most common cities for safety directors
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aspen Hill | 1 | 2% | $75,047 |
| 2 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $74,998 |
| 3 | Fort Lauderdale | 2 | 1% | $63,824 |
| 4 | Berkeley | 1 | 1% | $144,239 |
| 5 | Bridgeport | 1 | 1% | $100,024 |
| 6 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $68,533 |
| 7 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $106,299 |
| 8 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $112,642 |
| 9 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $96,058 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $75,236 |
Safety Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of safety director experts
University of Central Missouri
San Jose State University
NIOSH
IADLEST Member - International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training
NMSU/Dona Ana Community College
Wesley Tinker
Assistant Professor of SafetyUniversity of Central Missouri
Safety Sciences
What Safety Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Wesley Tinker: - In today's marketplace, the need for Safety Professionals is at an all-time high. With the ever-evolving methods and equipment across all industries, safety-related positions are being instituted to keep up with the introduction of the risks associated with the evolvement. Safety professionals impact the four quadrants of risk management involving finances, strategy, operations, and of course hazards. In previous years, the persona of duties associated with the Safety professional only impacted the hazards element but nowadays we can see how impactful they are on all four of those quadrants. With this level of involvement in the organization, the justification for a higher salary is made. Safety Professionals typically enter the field because they want to prevent people from becoming injured and/or ill but also the volume of positions along with the higher payscale than most 'fresh out of college' professions, allows for more opportunities.
Christine Foster
Adjunct ProfessorSan Jose State University
Industrial Systems and Engineering Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Safety Directors to find work opportunities?
Christine Foster: For geographic areas that will be best for jobs, I would say the jobs will follow the industry trends I mentioned above. Areas with a concentration of biopharma, including the Bay Area, New Jersey, Boston, North Carolina, and Seattle will likely continue to see high demand for safety professionals.
For those entering the field, consulting firms are a great place to begin a career, with many opportunities for new graduates and an ability to learn the field in a variety of industry applications.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Safety Directors?
Dr. John Howard: Recent graduates beginning a career in occupational safety and health will find the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the critical role of workplace safety and the health and occupational safety and health practitioners - not just in health care but in industries nationwide. Workers are the backbone of our nation that keep us moving ahead, even in the face of unprecedented threats, such as the one we face today. The importance of taking proactive steps to ensure they have the safety equipment and the training they need to perform work safely and remain healthy is clearer than ever.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Safety Director job market given the pandemic?
Linsay Hale: The most glaring impact of COVID-19 on the job market is lean towards telework and virtual offices. Public safety, corrections included, is not and will not be impacted by this trend since ensuring the safety and security of a courtroom's correctional facility requires an in-person presence.
Alfred Lujan
Assistant ProfessorNMSU/Dona Ana Community College
Public Services Department, Fire Science Program
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Safety Directors to find work opportunities?
Alfred Lujan: No, most municipalities and counties in the US have fire departments, and personnel is frequently hired due to regular attrition. Pay varies, however, depending on the area.