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The differences between safety supervisors and industrial hygienists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a safety supervisor and an industrial hygienist. Additionally, an industrial hygienist has an average salary of $68,173, which is higher than the $65,392 average annual salary of a safety supervisor.
The top three skills for a safety supervisor include OSHA, safety procedures and safety program. The most important skills for an industrial hygienist are OSHA, environmental health, and indoor air quality.
| Safety Supervisor | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,392 | $68,173 |
| Hourly rate | $31.44 | $32.78 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 16,481 | 23,048 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
An Industrial Hygienist plans and conducts health programs to educate employees about cleanliness, safety, and sanitation in the workplace. They investigate adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, and other conditions that can affect employees' health, comfort, or efficiency.
Safety supervisors and industrial hygienists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Supervisor | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Average salary | $65,392 | $68,173 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $98,000 | Between $45,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Cargill | Exxon Mobil |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a safety supervisor and an industrial hygienist in terms of educational background:
| Safety Supervisor | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Public Health |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between safety supervisors' and industrial hygienists' demographics:
| Safety Supervisor | Industrial Hygienist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% | Male, 74.0% Female, 26.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 9.8% White, 69.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |