by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 27 U.S. colleges awarded 300 degrees and certificates in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing, rising to $70,680 after four years.
A major in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene covers Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene. A Program That Prepares Public Health Specialists To Monitor And Evaluate Health And Related Safety Standards In Industrial, Commercial, And Government Workplaces And Facilities. Includes Instruction In Occupational Health And Safety Standards And Regulations; Health-Related Aspects Of Various Occupations And Work Environments; Health Hazard Testing And Evaluation; Test Equipment Operation And Maintenance; Industrial Toxicology; Worker Health And Safety Education; And The Analysis And Testing Of Job-Related Equipment, Behavior Practices, And Protective Devices And Procedures. Examples: [Industrial Hygiene].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, occupational health and industrial hygiene is a popular field of study, with 300 degrees awarded annually. 27 colleges award occupational health and industrial hygiene degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 78.
By level, the 300 awards include 72 bachelor’s degrees, 226 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 40% of occupational health and industrial hygiene degrees and certificates in the latest year (120 of 300). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (152) and Hispanic or Latino (40), and international students earned 16.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 5 for master’s degrees. It also ranks occupational health and industrial hygiene schools within 7 states. In all, 27 colleges offer occupational health and industrial hygiene programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common occupational health and industrial hygiene credential is the master’s degree: 226 of the 300 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to occupational health and industrial hygiene call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Instructing, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an occupational health and industrial hygiene degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 72 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 226 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to occupational health and industrial hygiene, at 33.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 33.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 22.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 17.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.4% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, with an average median salary of $66,951; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Prosthetic Aides Teacher, Professor, Clinical Assistant Professor and Gynecology Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to occupational health and industrial hygiene, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 72,502 | 2.7% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 54,625 | 9.1% |
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing their program, $70,680 after four years and $71,212 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,160 |
| 4 years | $70,680 |
| 5 years | $71,212 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to occupational health and industrial hygiene is Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, with a median salary of $105,544.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $105,544 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $48,647 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 41,433 degrees a year; the largest are Public Health, General (24,834), Public Health Education and Promotion (3,767) and Community Health and Preventive Medicine (3,539). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 24,834 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,767 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 3,539 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,750 |
| Health Services Administration | 2,283 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,529 |
| Environmental Health | 1,309 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 759 |
| Health/Medical Physics | 334 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 225 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
