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The differences between safety supervisors and safety representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a safety supervisor, becoming a safety representative takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a safety supervisor has an average salary of $65,392, which is higher than the $50,717 average annual salary of a safety representative.
The top three skills for a safety supervisor include OSHA, safety procedures and safety program. The most important skills for a safety representative are OSHA, safety procedures, and corrective action.
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $65,392 | $50,717 |
| Hourly rate | $31.44 | $24.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 16,481 | 15,531 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
A safety representative is responsible for reiterating safety protocols and regulations in the workplace to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. Safety representatives facilitate training and programs for the employees and inform them of any communications related to their safety and wellbeing. They also submit incident reports to the safety manager and provide recommendations to minimize risks and practice emergency drills. A safety representative must have excellent communication and organizational skills to create a safe environment for operations.
Safety supervisors and safety representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Representative | |
| Average salary | $65,392 | $50,717 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $98,000 | Between $32,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Cargill | ConocoPhillips |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a safety supervisor and a safety representative in terms of educational background:
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between safety supervisors' and safety representatives' demographics:
| Safety Supervisor | Safety Representative | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% | Male, 77.5% Female, 22.5% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 7% |