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Job outlook for safety representatives in the United States
Safety representative job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected safety representative job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 7,500 new jobs for safety representatives are projected over the next decade.
Safety representative salaries have increased -15% for safety representatives in the last 5 years.
There are over 30,791 safety representatives currently employed in the United States.
There are 15,531 active safety representative job openings in the US.
The average safety representative salary is $50,717.
Are safety representative jobs in demand?
Safety representative job and salary trends over time
Safety representative jobs over time
Safety representative job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,791 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 32,017 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 34,817 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 65,759 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 61,697 | 0.02% |
Average safety representative salary over time
Safety representative salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,717 | $24.38 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $48,956 | $23.54 | --20.3% |
| 2023 | $61,400 | $29.52 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $60,357 | $29.02 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | $59,634 | $28.67 | +1.0% |
Safety representative jobs by state
Most common states for safety representatives
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 51 | 7% |
| 2 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 390 | 4% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 243 | 4% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 173 | 4% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 126 | 4% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 53 | 4% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 27 | 4% |
| 8 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,006 | 3% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 269 | 3% |
| 10 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 250 | 3% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 245 | 3% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 198 | 3% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 122 | 3% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 102 | 3% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 48 | 3% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 38 | 3% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 34 | 3% |
| 18 | Delaware | 961,939 | 25 | 3% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 25 | 3% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 19 | 3% |
Most common cities for safety representatives
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benicia | 1 | 4% | $60,470 |
| 2 | Norton Shores | 1 | 4% | $51,257 |
| 3 | Saginaw | 1 | 2% | $53,834 |
| 4 | Fort Myers | 1 | 1% | $37,112 |
| 5 | Pomona | 1 | 1% | $53,125 |
| 6 | Pueblo | 1 | 1% | $49,171 |
| 7 | West Palm Beach | 1 | 1% | $36,857 |
| 8 | Westminster | 1 | 1% | $49,682 |
| 9 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $50,286 |
| 10 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $42,901 |
| 11 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $34,737 |
| 12 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $41,207 |
| 13 | Tampa | 1 | 0% | $36,417 |
Safety Representative job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of safety representative experts
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
University of Central Missouri
University of Central Missouri
Southeastern Louisiana University
San Jose State University
NIOSH
IADLEST Member - International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training
NMSU/Dona Ana Community College
Tracey Cekada
Chairperson and Professor, Safety Sciences DepartmentIndiana University of Pennsylvania
Quality Control And Safety Technologies/Technicians
What will help Safety Representatives increase their earning potential?
Tracey Cekada: I would offer two words of advice- be willing to travel and get involved. All too often we see students that are unwilling to leave their area in their first years after graduation. This limits their opportunities and their earning potential. If they are willing to relocate, even for a few years to gain experience, this can help to propel them up the career ladder much faster. Secondly, the importance of getting involved cannot be understated. Making connections through organizations like ASSP, NSC, and AIHA are invaluable.
Wesley Tinker
Assistant Professor of SafetyUniversity of Central Missouri
Safety Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Safety Representative?
Wesley Tinker: - The day-to-day duties of a Safety Professional depend on the industry they currently work in but also the level of tenure they have in the organization. There is a long list of duties but the following allow for a broad sweep across an average day. The schedule of a typical workday could start with a toolbox talk which allows for a brief 'heads-up' to a vast array of safety-related topics or issues that workers have the possibility of seeing on-site. Field audits would be another crucial duty to examine the site for new safety-related issues and to monitor controls set on previously identified hazards. Conducting pieces of training for new workers and/or updates on safety-related issues on their site. Accident investigations are one of the random unexpected duties a Safety Professional might conduct, which is important in the prevention of future injuries and illnesses. Providing good customer service toward the workers and management but also the organization's vendors is critical for nearly all aspects of that company. Customer service is closely connected to the culture of the company as the majority of industry leaders provide a 'Safety First' environment. Overall, the Safety Professional provides many attributes to the day-to-day functions of many organizations. These attributes directly impact that company's stance in the overall global marketplace.
What Safety Representative 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.
What will help Safety Representatives increase their earning potential?
Wesley Tinker: - Most dislikes are typically initial as they are mostly during the time needed to adapt to the organizational structure and procedures. Desensitization to certain aspects such as public speaking and conflict resolution is needed, as those skills will assist them heavily in their future in safety. Another dislike could be the individual not enjoying the development of safety loss control programs, but these documents are the backbone to which they enforce compliance and explain all elements related to worker and infrastructure safety. - There are many more 'likes' associated with being in safety than 'dislikes'. Safety Professionals can expect a very rewarding career personally, financially, and professionally as they typically enjoy a great work/life balance, maintaining a lucrative career which the majority of organizations start them at salaries ranging from $70,000 to $95,000, and several developmental aspects associated with being an active Safety Professional.
Wesley Tinker
Assistant Professor of SafetyUniversity of Central Missouri
Safety Sciences
What soft skills should all Safety Representatives possess?
Wesley Tinker: In the safety profession, one must be personable and know how to read the crowd and the individual.
-A strong work ethic is a standout for anyone, but effective multi-tasking in the safety profession will set you apart.
-As noted, time management is a professional trait all must possess to be successful in almost any industry.
Handling pressure and keeping composure under stressful situations shows your professionalism and handling most tasks presented to you.
Continuous improvement objectives so that the site safety culture is always advancing toward high worker morale and management support for what the safety professional is attempting to achieve.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Safety Representatives?
Wesley Tinker: -Risk assessment skills are a must; without them, the individual will be lost.
-Ventilation and noise calculations as well as monitoring procedures.
-How to calibrate hazard monitoring equipment.
-Instructional skills. The safety professional spends a large portion of their days training workers to perform their tasks safely either in a classroom setting or individually on site.
-Ability to perform thorough accident investigations and provide preventative control measures based on causal factors found.
-Ability to quantitate values of risk versus controls as well as cost/benefit analysis.
-The technical uses for analytical techniques to break down analysis' in several different functions of the job duties.
-Able to apply OSHA requirements to specific site functions, i.e., secondary containment, hot works, and elevated working surfaces.
What skills will help Safety Representatives earn the most?
Wesley Tinker: -Being a well-rounded safety professional is one of the absolute most important contributions to any organization. Being able to have several skill sets will make the professional highly marketable.
-Continuing education will advance one's pay range.
-An advanced degree will increase market salary.
-Professional certifications from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals such as the GSP, CHST, SMS, ASP, CSP, and CIH.
-Overall, there must be a good mesh of personable and technical skills to be a highly successful safety professional in almost any industry.
What skills stand out on Safety Representative resumes?
Wesley Tinker: When reviewing an Occupational Health and Safety Professional resumes, specific items stand out from a viewer's standpoint.
-Whether the degree program they graduated from is ABET-accredited.
-Obtaining the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) upon graduation from a qualified degree program shows that the candidate has been very well educated for the safety profession.
-The experience from their internships. Expect to be asked about their day-to-day duties while in their internship.
-Professional skills noted such as time management, customer service, technological abilities, and overall organizational skills.
-Affiliations with safety organizations as well as student chapter organizations, such as the American ---Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP).
-Limiting to a single page for a resume is important. Most entry-level safety professionals are hired knowing they do not possess all the skill sets that a seasoned safety professional might have. The average resume for most industries is viewed for approximately 6 to 7 seconds. Having high-profile information toward the top of the resume is critical if wanting to be brought in for an interview.
-Certifications in OSHA 10 and 30, CPR/First Aid, as well as CPR/First Aid Instructor certification, is a very large advantage. If one really wanted to stand out, an EMT-B license would help too.
Jared Reno
Undergraduate Coordinator of The Industrial and Engineering Technology DepartmentSoutheastern Louisiana University
Industrial and Engineering Technology
What skills will help Safety Representatives earn the most?
Jared Reno: Right now, we are seeing an outstanding demand for certified welding inspectors and supervisors. This is due to a huge age gap of experience, and none experienced workers. The average age of a welding inspector or supervisor is 64 years old. That means we are about to see a huge decline because these workers will be retiring.
-With that being said, experience is the key factor for improving your paycheck in this industry. The students who do the best throughout their lives started doing internships early in their college careers. This gave them relevant work experience plus a 4-year degree. This made them more desirable for companies, and so they got put into better positions before all the other graduates allowing them more opportunities to grow.
-One last thing that can help you earn more is to never stop your learning. Continue learning about your trade and continue to get certifications after graduating. The more credentials you have, the more desirable you are. Develop a thirst for knowledge and learning. It will help you in your career and in your life.
What skills stand out on Safety Representative resumes?
Jared Reno: In today's world, diversity stands out the most for our industrial and engineering technology students. Companies want employees that can adapt and change quickly and easily. If students have a wide background of knowledge and certifications, they can be put in different situations daily and still thrive. And what I mean about a wide background of knowledge is that they know a little about electricity and electronics, hydraulics and pneumatics, drafting and design, machining and machine tools, and managing people. This broad range of knowledge coupled with an in-depth study of one of these fields has helped our students truly succeed in their careers. They know how to bring different groups together to perform a task and get it done well because they can effectively communicate what is needed.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Safety Representatives?
Jared Reno: The most important technical skills someone needs to know is:
-One, how to read blueprints and professionally drafted plans. Our industry partners have told us that print reading is a must for all internships and part-time and full-time positions. It is expected that a college graduate of a technical field knows how to read plans
-Basic computer skills using Spreadsheets and Document formats such as Microsoft Word and Excel or Google Docs and Google Sheets. This is crucial for working in any industry but especially Engineering or Industrial practices. These are used to make procedures for safety and production. They are used to evaluate data that has been collected. They are used for organizing information for customers, employees, and manufacturers. The more you know about these programs, the easier your work life will be.
-Basic project management skills are also crucial. Even if you are not the "project manager," you need to have some skills. You need to know how to prioritize more important tasks, you need to know how to manage your time wisely, you need to know how to communicate with multiple people or groups of people.
What soft skills should all Safety Representatives possess?
Jared Reno: In industrial and engineering technologies, I believe that the most important soft skill is critical thinking skills like designing aptitudes to fit specific needs, innovating using the resources available to your company, troubleshooting problems in equipment, logistics, and interpersonal disputes. This industry is all about solving problems in new and creative ways, and that is why I think critical thinking skills are the most important.
Christine Foster
Adjunct ProfessorSan Jose State University
Industrial Systems and Engineering Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Safety Representative job market given the pandemic?
Christine Foster: I believe that the pandemic will continue to drive opportunities for occupational safety work within the greater healthcare market, and more specifically in hospitals and clinics as well as biotech/pharma. I also have seen an increased demand for safety professionals overall, as many aspects of the pandemic have driven home the need for safety in industries that have not typically had a focus in this area. Examples of this include food and beverage, where there have been significant outbreaks during the pandemic, and food service where there is great risk for exposure during eating and drinking activities. Regulatory changes will also continue to increase demand for occupational safety expertise.
What skills stand out on Safety Representative resumes?
Christine Foster: From a skills perspective, I look for strong written and verbal communication skills. This includes making sure that the resume is grammatically solid and free from spelling errors. This is a first impression, and one that may make the difference between getting an interview or not. Specific experience that is important includes risk assessment/analysis, regulatory interpretation, data analysis, and project management. So much of what we do in occupational safety is assessing risk and then translating that into recommendations that are then managed to execution. Today's safety professional needs to be able to do all of these things well.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Safety Representatives 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 Representatives?
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 Representative 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.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Safety Representatives in the next 3-5 years?
Linsay Hale: Law enforcement, like most job fields, is continually evolving to reflect technological advancements. I would say, again generally speaking, that transparency and accountability of those employed in police and corrections are at the forefront of the national social and political discussion, as is the safety of the men and women choosing to work in those professions and the safety of community members (whether they be incarcerated or not). As such, I suppose that any tool or technologies developed to further those initiatives will increase in popularity and prevalence.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Safety Representatives in the next 5 years?
Linsay Hale: I don't know that a POST agency best answers this question. Our agency (Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training) is responsible for training and certifying public safety officers, to include corrections officers. But we don't hire corrections officers. While we know, through registrations into the Basic Corrections Course, that employed Oregon corrections officers are required to attend, there is always a need for qualified corrections officers. Still, I would suggest posing this question to agencies responsible for hiring those officers. The employment requirements (including what level of education is required) is at their discretion. They would also be best suited to weigh whether or not they see an increase or decrease in demand coming.
Alfred Lujan
Assistant ProfessorNMSU/Dona Ana Community College
Public Services Department, Fire Science Program
What type of skills will young Safety Representatives need?
Alfred Lujan: Most fire departments require or prefer candidates with a current Emergency Medical Technician-Basic license at a minimum.
Many fire departments require a minimum of a Firefighter I IFSAC or Pro Board certification, and it is a prerequisite Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations certification.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Safety Representatives 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.
How do you envision technology impacting Safety Representatives in the next 5 years?
Alfred Lujan: Technology advancements are prevalent in emergency services, like everywhere else. In the next five years, I envision GPS technology to play a vital role in the dispatch of and location navigation for emergency services units and personnel tracking in the hot zone. Technology will also likely play a role in improving communication and connectivity between emergency response agencies.
Things like biotelemetry, simulation training, advancements in personal protective equipment, and advances in apparatus and equipment technology will continue to evolve in making firefighters more effective and efficient.