Safety Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Safety Engineer make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Safety Engineer in the United States is $72,307 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, a Safety Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,390
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $66,150 to $79,678
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $60,544
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View as table View as graph 25% $66,150 10% $60,544 90% $86,390 75% $79,678 $72,307 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Safety Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,678 $6,640 $1,532 $38
Average $72,307 $6,026 $1,391 $35
25th Percentile $66,150 $5,512 $1,272 $32
Check out Safety Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Safety Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton - EL SEGUNDO, CA

Systems Safety Engineer

SPA - WASHINGTON, DC

Staff Safety Engineer

ENSCO, Inc. - ALBUQUERQUE, NM

System Safety Engineer

Leidos - HUNTSVILLE, AL

Search More Safety Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Safety Engineer Salaries

A Safety Engineer'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 Safety Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Safety Engineer'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): $71,765
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $85,876
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $103,643
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,746
  • Expert (over 8 years): $154,803
Levels Salary
Safety En... Level Safety Engineer$71,765
Environme... Level Safety Engineer$85,876
Environme... Level Safety Engineer$103,643
Environme... Level Safety Engineer$126,746
Environme... Level Safety Engineer$154,803
$71,765 0 yr
$85,876 < 2 yrs
$103,643 2-4 yrs
$126,746 5-8 yrs
$154,803 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Safety Engineers

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: $91,200
  • San Francisco: $90,304
  • Oakland: $88,301

What Skills Can Increase a Safety Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.24% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 1.21% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.24%
AutoCAD 2.04%
Food Safety 1.21%
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 Safety Engineer's salary.
  • HVAC: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Design Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Electrical Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
HVAC
$87,491
21%
Design Engineering
$76,645
6%
Electrical Engineering
$75,922
5%
System Design
$75,922
5%
Interpersonal Communication
$75,199
4%
Safety Standards
$75,199
4%
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How Education impacts a Safety Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Safety Engineers enter the field with a Associate'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 Safety Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $63,541 and $66,357).

Safety Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Safety Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 9.3%
Associates 6.8%
Bachelors 59.4%
Masters 22.8%
Doctorate 0.6%
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Safety Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Safety Engineer'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 February 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Safety Engineer

Salaries for a Safety Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,521 in 2023 to around $66,333 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Safety Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Safety Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,521
2024
$66,975
2025
$66,333
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,521
2024 $66,975
2025 $66,333
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Safety Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Safety Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Safety Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Safety Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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