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The differences between safety specialists 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 specialist, 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 $57,905 average annual salary of a safety specialist.
The top three skills for a safety specialist include OSHA, develop corrective action and safety program. The most important skills for a safety supervisor are OSHA, safety procedures, and safety program.
| Safety Specialist | Safety Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $57,905 | $65,392 |
| Hourly rate | $27.84 | $31.44 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 16,355 | 16,481 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Safety specialists examine various types of work procedures and environments. They observe if workplaces stick to the regulations on health, safety, and the environment. Also, they create programs to prevent injury or disease to workers and harm to the environment. Their duties include identifying hazards at the workplace and collecting samples of potentially toxic materials for examination. Another task they do is conduct training on emergency preparedness. Additionally, they explore and identify the causes of an accident to determine their preventative measures.
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 specialists and safety supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Specialist | Safety Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $57,905 | $65,392 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $87,000 | Between $43,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Cargill |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a safety specialist and a safety supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Safety Specialist | Safety Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between safety specialists' and safety supervisors' demographics:
| Safety Specialist | Safety Supervisor | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.3% Female, 30.7% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |