by our College Data Analytics TeamOccupational Health and Industrial Hygiene was the 808th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 211 degrees in this year alone. This 65 less than the prior year, a decrease of 30.8%.
Our 2023 Best Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools ranking analyzes 14 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for occupational health and industrial hygiene students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of occupational health and industrial hygiene programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in occupational health and industrial hygiene is talking to others to convey information effectively. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most occupational health and industrial hygiene degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific occupational health and industrial hygiene careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of occupational health and industrial hygiene degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in occupational health and industrial hygiene to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a occupational health and industrial hygiene degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to occupational health and industrial hygiene, with approximately 48.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for occupational health and industrial hygiene workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 49.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 23.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 8.1% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 6.2% |
About 91.0% of workers in careers related to occupational health and industrial hygiene obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in occupational health and industrial hygiene have received.
The education level required is different depending on the occupational health and industrial hygiene career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your occupational health and industrial hygiene degree? Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene careers are expected to grow 20.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational health and industrial hygiene.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 90,500 | 8.1% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 19,900 | 9.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers occupational health and industrial hygiene grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $74,940 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $55,270 |
With over 47 different occupational health and industrial hygiene degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased occupational health and industrial hygiene school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene that might interest you.
One of 11 majors within the Public Health area of study, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Public Health | 22,778 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 4,563 |
| Other Public Health | 3,432 |
| Health Services Administration | 3,119 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 2,272 |
View All Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Related Majors >
Image Credit: By Article 25 Flickr under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
