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The differences between safety officers and health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a safety officer and a health specialist. Additionally, a health specialist has an average salary of $47,740, which is higher than the $46,336 average annual salary of a safety officer.
The top three skills for a safety officer include OSHA, patients and patrol. The most important skills for a health specialist are patients, health education, and public health.
| Safety Officer | Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,336 | $47,740 |
| Hourly rate | $22.28 | $22.95 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 68,487 | 72,463 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A safety officer specializes in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for employees in a building or establishment. Aside from adhering to the safety standards and regulations within a company, a safety officer also has to craft and improve policies that prioritize the physical and mental health of workers. Furthermore, it is essential to implement safety programs by educating workers on various precautionary measures, performing regular inspections of equipment and machines, and ensuring the proper disposal of any hazardous waste materials.
A health specialist is primarily responsible for the health and welfare care of patients in a community or medical facility. They are also responsible for providing consultations, conducting assessments and examinations, providing prescriptions, and recommending care methods. A health specialist may also diagnose and treat ailments and injuries, coordinate with other health experts, and discuss conditions with patients and their families. Furthermore, a health specialist may participate in public discussions to raise awareness of health issues and lifestyles.
Safety officers and health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Officer | Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $46,336 | $47,740 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $73,000 | Between $31,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Amgen | City of Seattle |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a safety officer and a health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Safety Officer | Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between safety officers' and health specialists' demographics:
| Safety Officer | Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |