Career Trends: Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Occupational health and safety technicians collect data on the health and safety conditions of the workplace. Technicians work with occupational health and safety specialists in conducting tests and measuring hazards to help prevent harm to workers, property, the environment, and the general public.

Occupational health and safety technicians work in a variety of settings, such as offices, factories, and mines. Their jobs often involve considerable fieldwork and travel. Most work full time.

Occupational health and safety technicians typically enter the occupation through one of two paths. Some technicians learn through on-the-job training; others enter with postsecondary education such as an associate’s degree or certificate.

Employment of occupational health and safety technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Technicians will be needed to conduct tests, measure hazards, and ensure that employers are adhering to existing and new safety and health regulations.

This occupation supported 12,600 jobs in 2012 and 15,100 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 19.8%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 10.3% in 2022 to 13,900 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 12,800, compared with an observed value of 15,100, 18.0% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 11.1% in 2024 to 16,500 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 14,100 jobs for 2024, 14.5% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation.