Certified Industrial Hygienist Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Industrial Hygienist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Industrial Hygienist in the United States is $94,199 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

However, a Certified Industrial Hygienist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $111,640
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $84,802 to $103,328
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,246

Key Factors That Influence Certified Industrial Hygienist Salaries

A Certified Industrial Hygienist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Industrial Hygienist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Industrial Hygienist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $90,381
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,667
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,097
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $94,467
  • Expert (over 8 years): $97,152
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Industrial Hygienist$90,381
Intermediate Level Certified Industrial Hygienist$90,667
Senior Level Certified Industrial Hygienist$92,097
Specialist Level Certified Industrial Hygienist$94,467
Expert Level Certified Industrial Hygienist$97,152

Top Paying Cities for Certified Industrial Hygienists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $118,813
  • San Francisco: $117,512
  • Oakland: $115,036

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Industrial Hygienist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • HACCP (Mentioned in 3.08% Job Postings): HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement to manufacturing and consumption of the finished product.
  • Dental Care (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Dental or oral health is concerned with your teeth, gums and mouth. The goal is to prevent complications such as tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease and to maintain the overall health of your mouth.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12%
HACCP 3.08%
Dental Care 2.03%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Industrial Hygienist's salary.

  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Dental Hygiene: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Clinical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Teamwork $125,285
33%
Dental Hygiene $113,039
20%
Clinical Skills $112,097
19%

Certified Industrial Hygienist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Industrial Hygienist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Certified Industrial Hygienist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Certified Industrial Hygienist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Certified Industrial Hygienist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$127,169$61.035%
Energy & Utilities$109,271$53.016%
Software & Networking$108,329$52.015%
Pharmaceuticals$105,503$51.012%
Internet$103,619$50.010%

How Education impacts a Certified Industrial Hygienist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Certified Industrial Hygienists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Certified Industrial Hygienist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $91,787 and $100,081).

Certified Industrial Hygienist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Certified Industrial Hygienist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.4%
High School 2.4%
Associates 1.8%
Bachelors 37.0%
Masters 57.6%
Doctorate 1.2%

Certified Industrial Hygienist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Industrial Hygienist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$84,802
Average $94,199/year
$103,328
$7,067
Average $7,850/month
$8,611
$1,631
Average $1,812/week
$1,987
$41
Average $45/hour
$50
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $103,328 $8,611 $1,987 $50
Average $94,199 $7,850 $1,812 $45
25th Percentile $84,802 $7,067 $1,631 $41

Most common benefits for Certified Industrial Hygienist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Industrial Hygienist

Here are companies hiring for Certified Industrial Hygienist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Certified Industrial Hygienist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Industrial Hygienist?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Industrial Hygienist roles, with salaries approximately 35% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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