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The differences between safety officers and safety supervisors 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 officer, becoming a safety supervisor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a safety supervisor has an average salary of $65,392, 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 safety supervisor are OSHA, safety procedures, and safety program.
| Safety Officer | Safety Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $46,336 | $65,392 |
| Hourly rate | $22.28 | $31.44 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 68,487 | 16,481 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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 safety supervisor is responsible for monitoring the overall operations of a production, ensuring the safety and security of everyone, and enforcing strict regulations and protocols. Safety supervisors organize safety orientations and training for the workers, as well as reiterating disciplinary measures and policies and procedures during meetings. They inspect the workplace, including the maintenance of tools and equipment, immediately calling for repair for any defective items found. A safety supervisor also assists with the investigation of workplace hazards to prevent such complications in the future.
Safety officers and safety supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Officer | Safety Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $46,336 | $65,392 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $73,000 | Between $43,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Amgen | Cargill |
| Best paying industry | Government | Energy |
There are a few differences between a safety officer and a safety supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Safety Officer | Safety Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between safety officers' and safety supervisors' demographics:
| Safety Officer | Safety Supervisor | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 4% |