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Occupational Health Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Occupational Health Specialist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Occupational Health Specialist in the United States is $114,262 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, an Occupational Health Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $134,742
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $104,237 to $124,982
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,110
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Occupational Health Specialist Salaries

An Occupational Health Specialist'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 Occupational Health Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Occupational Health Specialist'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): $109,688
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $110,142
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,657
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,474
  • Expert (over 8 years): $116,154
Levels Salary
Entry Level Occupational Health Specialist$109,688
Intermediate Level Occupational Health Specialist$110,142
Senior Level Occupational Health Specialist$111,657
Specialist Level Occupational Health Specialist$113,474
Expert Level Occupational Health Specialist$116,154
View as Graph

How Do Occupational Health Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Occupational Health Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $126,511.
  • California: $126,031.
  • Massachusetts: $124,351.

Top Paying Cities for Occupational Health Specialists

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: $144,119
  • San Francisco: $142,541
  • Oakland: $139,537

What Skills Can Increase an Occupational Health Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 6.7% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 3.21% Job Postings): Nursing practice may be work experience that is direct and/or indirect patient care in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation in the specialty represented by the credential.
  • Adult Learning (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Adult education is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 6.7%
Nursing Practice 3.21%
Adult Learning 1.96%
See More Skills

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 an Occupational Health Specialist's salary.

  • Conflict Management: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Record Keeping: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Conflict Management $130,259
14%
Record Keeping $127,973
12%
Project Management $126,831
11%
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Occupational Health Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Occupational Health Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Occupational Health Specialist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Occupational Health Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Occupational Health Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$171,393$82.050%
Energy & Utilities$148,541$71.030%
Pharmaceuticals$148,541$71.030%
Aerospace & Defense$137,114$66.020%
Software & Networking$137,114$66.020%

How Education impacts an Occupational Health Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Occupational Health Specialists 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 an Occupational Health Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $125,435 and $134,125).

Occupational Health Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Occupational Health Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.6%
High School 6.6%
Associates 28.1%
Bachelors 49.6%
Masters 15.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Occupational Health Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Occupational Health Specialist'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 October 01, 2026
$104,237
Average $114,262/year
$124,982
$8,686
Average $9,522/month
$10,415
$2,005
Average $2,197/week
$2,404
$50
Average $55/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $124,982 $10,415 $2,404 $60
Average $114,262 $9,522 $2,197 $55
25th Percentile $104,237 $8,686 $2,005 $50

Most common benefits for Occupational Health Specialist

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

Common company salaries for Occupational Health Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Occupational Health Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Occupational Health Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Occupational Health Specialist?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Occupational Health Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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