Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Health and Safety Engineer Health and safety engineers must be able to identify hazards before those hazards damage property or health. Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Completing internships or cooperative-
Education
programs may be helpful for gaining hands-on experience while in school. Education High school students interested in health and safety engineering should take classes in mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; computer science; and sciences, such as chemistry and physics. Health and safety engineers typically require a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, such as chemical, mechanical, industrial, or systems engineering. Bachelor’s degree programs include academic and laboratory coursework in subjects such as occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and environmental safety. Employers may prefer to hire graduates of engineering programs accredited by a professional association. Colleges and universities may offer internships or cooperative-education programs with businesses that allow students to gain practical experience while completing their education. Some colleges and universities offer 5-year programs that lead to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Training
materials to workers. They must be able to clearly explain regulations and procedures to a variety of audiences. Critical-thinking skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to interpret regulations and their intent so that they can propose designs for specific worksites. Interpersonal skills. Health and safety engineers interact with workers across an organization to evaluate safety programs, identify potential hazards, and recommend corrective actions. They also must be able to develop a rapport with employers and employees when interviewing them during investigations. Observational skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to identify hazards before those hazards damage property or health. Problem-solving skills. Health and safety engineers must be able to identify issues with safety processes or products and recommend ways to improve them.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Licensure is not required for entry-level health and safety engineer positions. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure typically requires a bachelor’s or higher degree in engineering, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam. Each state issues its own license. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses. Some states require fire protection engineers to have a license. Check with your state for more information. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Although certification is not required, some health and safety engineers choose to earn a professional credential. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of health and safety engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 1,200 openings for health and safety engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Health and safety engineers will be needed to help protect against potential hazards. As new regulations are created, organizations are expected to rely on these engineers for help in complying with requirements that safeguard people from illness and injury and property from damage. Health and Safety Engineers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Engineers 8% Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors 5% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Health and Safety Engineers Do
Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety.
Duties
Health and safety engineers typically do the following:
- Apply knowledge of current policies, regulations, and industrial processes related to health and safety
- Review plans for new machinery and equipment to make sure that they meet safety requirements
- Inspect facilities, machinery, safety equipment, or products to identify and recommend corrective action for potential hazards
- Investigate the cause of industrial accidents or injuries
- Direct the installation of safety devices
- Create new or review existing employee safety programs and recommend improvements
Health and safety engineers evaluate worksites, products, and systems to ensure safety. They identify concerns and recommend changes to address potential risks. Their work duties and job titles may vary by position. For example, fire prevention and protection engineers analyze potential fire hazards of buildings, materials, and transportation systems.
In addition to focusing on prevention, health and safety engineers investigate industrial accidents and injuries to determine what the cause was and whether the incidents were avoidable. They interview employers and employees to learn about work environments that may have led to accidents or injuries. They also evaluate the corrections that were made to remedy violations found during health inspections.
For information on health and safety engineers who work in mines, see the profile on mining and geological engineers.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Health and safety engineers held about 22,300 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of health and safety engineers were as follows:
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 12 |
| Engineering services | 10 |
| Construction | 9 |
Health and safety engineers typically work in an office setting. They also may need to travel to worksites.
Work Schedules
Most health and safety engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Health and safety engineers prepare and present
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about health and safety engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Find Education Programs
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Explore pathway →Hear From ED
Use the guided career counseling experience to connect this career to your goals, skills and education preferences.
Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.