Long-Term Prospects

Long-Term Prospects

Job Satisfaction

71%

General quality of life statement

Bad news first. You're not going to be rolling in cash. It's just not one of those kinds of jobs. There aren't a lot of rap songs about occupational health and safety. For so many reasons, really. Your earnings are roughly comparable to what the liberal arts types are going to be making, assuming they can even find a job.

Which brings us to the good news. Unemployment for occupational health and safety majors is below the national average. Demand for this type of position is ever-present, and as long as there are people who have jobs, so will you. While your friends are going to be hunting around for work, you'll have a much easier time.

Even more impressive is that job satisfaction rate. That's through the roof. The kind of person who enjoys this work is the kind that gravitates toward it. Incidentally, "that kind of person" is someone who wants workplaces to be as healthy and safe as possible. Pretty good people if you ask us. Those who get this kind of work do so because they like it, and they're pleased to find it's what they're hoping for.

Bottom line: don't get into this if you're only in it for the money. You're not going to be happy. Everyone else who's actually interested, come on in. This career doesn't pull any punches, you'll do exactly what you would imagine: checking to see how dangerous things are. Anything from pandas to nitrile gloves.

25th Percentile Salary

$34,000

Median Salary

$47,000

75th Percentile Salary

$67,000

Stats obtained from this source.