Occupational Safety and Health Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Occupational Safety and Health Technology equips students with the technical expertise needed to support professionals in safeguarding workplace environments. This program emphasizes practical application of engineering fundamentals to identify, assess, and mitigate health and safety hazards across diverse industries.
- Safety Engineering Principles: Core concepts governing the design and implementation of systems that prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.
- Inspection and Monitoring Procedures: Techniques for systematically evaluating facilities, equipment, and processes to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Testing and Sampling Methods: Scientific approaches to collect and analyze data on environmental and chemical exposures in industrial settings.
- Laboratory Techniques: Hands-on methodologies for conducting tests on air quality, noise levels, hazardous materials, and other occupational health factors.
- Industry-Specific Applications: Tailored strategies for applying safety protocols in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, mining, and other high-risk sectors.
- Report Preparation: Skills in documenting findings, recommending corrective actions, and communicating safety data to stakeholders effectively.
Occupational Safety and Health Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Occupational Safety and Health Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Occupational Safety and Health Technology degrees, including Occupational Health and Safety Specialists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 128,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists 19-5011 | $83,910 | $50,610 - $130,460 | 128,430 | $40.34 |
Occupational Safety and Health Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,570 in Arkansas to $115,710 in District of Columbia—a 62% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 128,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Occupational Safety and Health Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 56 institutions offering Occupational Safety and Health Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Occupational Safety and Health Technology is found at Columbia Southern University (CSU) (1,766 graduates), Waldorf University (148 graduates), Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) (128 graduates), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide (76 graduates), and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Main Campus (74 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,147 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Southern University (CSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Other Award
|
1,766 | Orange Beach, Alabama | Private | columbiasouthern.edu |
| Waldorf University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
148 | Forest City, Iowa | Private | waldorf.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Bachelor's
|
128 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
76 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | worldwide.erau.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
Bachelor's
|
71 | Durant, Oklahoma | Public | se.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
58 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Odessa College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
56 | Odessa, Texas | Public | odessa.edu |
| Keene State College (KSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Keene, New Hampshire | Public | keene.edu |
| Lee College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
48 | Baytown, Texas | Public | lee.edu |
| Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lit.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
|
35 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) |
Residency
|
34 | Maysville, Kentucky | Public | maysville.kctcs.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Texas State Technical College (TSTC) |
Associate's
|
29 | Waco, Texas | Public | tstc.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Hammond, Louisiana | Public | southeastern.edu |
| Jacksonville State University (JSU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Jacksonville, Alabama | Public | jsu.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Master's
|
22 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| Fairmont State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
20 | Fairmont, West Virginia | Public | fairmontstate.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | daytonabeach.erau.edu |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) |
Residency
|
18 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | jefferson.kctcs.edu |
| Kilgore College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Kilgore, Texas | Public | kilgore.edu |
| Pittsburg State University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Pittsburg, Kansas | Public | pittstate.edu |
| Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) |
Residency
|
16 | Ashland, Kentucky | Public | ashland.kctcs.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Brazosport College (BC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Lake Jackson, Texas | Public | brazosport.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| Marshall University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| Barton County Community College |
Associate's
Residency
|
13 | Great Bend, Kansas | Public | bartonccc.edu |
| San Juan College (SJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Farmington, New Mexico | Public | sanjuancollege.edu |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | abtech.edu |
| Honolulu Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | honolulu.hawaii.edu |
| College of the Mainland (COM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Texas City, Texas | Public | com.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
8 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Nicholls State University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Thibodaux, Louisiana | Public | nicholls.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Master's
|
7 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Associate's
|
6 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Master's
|
6 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAA) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
4 | Anchorage, Alaska | Public | uaa.alaska.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Central Community College (CCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
4 | Grand Island, Nebraska | Public | cccneb.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Master's
|
4 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Carl Albert State College (CASC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Poteau, Oklahoma | Public | carlalbert.edu |
| Thiel College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Greenville, Pennsylvania | Private | thiel.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| Madonna University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
3 | Livonia, Michigan | Private | madonna.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Other Award
|
3 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Pierce College District |
Associate's
|
1 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | pierce.ctc.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Occupational Safety and Health Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Occupational Safety and Health Technology degree?
Salaries for Occupational Safety and Health Technology graduates vary by role and location. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists earn a median of $83,910 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $115,710 compared to $71,570 in Arkansas. Approximately 128,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Occupational Safety and Health Technology programs?
Currently 56 accredited institutions offer Occupational Safety and Health Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Columbia Southern University (CSU) (1,766 graduates), Waldorf University (148 graduates), and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) (128 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Occupational Safety and Health Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,698 in 2010 to a peak of 3,416 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,147 in 2023-24. This represents a 85% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Occupational Safety and Health Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Occupational Health and Safety Specialists. Related occupations employ approximately 128,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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