Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between safety supervisors and safety engineers 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 a safety engineer. Additionally, a safety engineer has an average salary of $74,228, 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 a safety engineer are OSHA, safety standards, and safety program.
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,392 | $74,228 |
| Hourly rate | $31.44 | $35.69 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 16,481 | 16,617 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
The duties of a safety engineer depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the implementation of the safety policies and regulations in a company by conducting regular inspections and maintenance checks, coordinating with department personnel to gather data, assessing risks, and arranging precautionary measures. A safety engineer must also address issues and concerns, responding to them in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, there are instances when they have to lead safety orientations and seminars to maintain a safe and productive environment for everyone.
Safety supervisors and safety engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Engineer | |
| Average salary | $65,392 | $74,228 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $98,000 | Between $49,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Cargill | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a safety supervisor and a safety engineer in terms of educational background:
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between safety supervisors' and safety engineers' demographics:
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |