by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Occupational Safety & Health Technology covers Occupational Safety And Health Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Engineers And Other Professionals Engaged In Maintaining Job-Related Health And Safety Standards. Includes Instruction In Safety Engineering Principles, Inspection And Monitoring Procedures, Testing And Sampling Procedures, Laboratory Techniques, Applications To Specific Work Environments, And Report Preparation. Read on to learn the important information every occupational safety & health technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering occupational safety & health technology programs.
Nationwide, occupational safety & health technology is a widely-pursued major, with 3,147 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Occupational Safety & Health Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 56 schools to determine the best overall colleges for occupational safety & health technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of occupational safety & health technology programs later in this article.
Studies in Occupational Safety & Health Technology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations occupational safety & health technology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a occupational safety & health technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a occupational safety & health technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several occupational safety & health technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 667 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,444 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 938 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to occupational safety & health technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 73.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 8.7% |
| Master’s degree | 8.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in occupational safety & health technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in occupational safety & health technology opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to occupational safety & health technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational safety & health technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 72,502 | 2.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of occupational safety & health technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,389 |
| 4 years | $70,808 |
| 5 years | $79,621 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for occupational safety & health technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers occupational safety & health technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $105,544 |
With 56 different occupational safety & health technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased occupational safety & health technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in occupational safety & health technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Technology/Technician | 422 |
| Industrial Safety Technology/Technician | 258 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
