Salary Survey Pinpoints Value of Certifications for Safety & Health Professionals

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals and the American Society of Safety Professionals (formerly the American Society of Safety Engineers) recently conducted a 33-question salary survey of nearly 10,000 safety, health, and environmental professionals based primarily in the United States and Canada, identifying the typical salary, benefits, credentials and experience of these individuals.
The median base salary for full-time professionals was $97,000, with 22% of respondents earning $125,000 or more.
In Connecticut, the median base salary for full-time professionals was $110,000 at companies with more than 100 employees. For companies with fewer than 100, the sample size was too small to yield statistically significant results.
Nationwide, safety professionals with at least one corresponding certification (ASP, CDGP, CET, CHMM, CHMP, CHST, CIH, CSP, OHST, SMS, STSC, STS) typically earned $20,000 more per year than those with none.
The certified safety professional designation added $30,000 to the salary of a practitioner with no other credentials.
“The value of safety, health and environmental certifications continues to grow, with many laws and standards specifically citing them,” says BCSP CEO Treasa M. Turnbeaugh, Ph.D., MBA, CSP, ASP, CET, CAE, IOM.
“Many companies include certifications in their job requirements, and contracts for safety services also call for them. Earning certifications that support your specialty and heighten your expertise is the smart thing to do.”
Three in four professionals had at least one of eight BCSP certifications, most commonly a CSP (46%).

No less than 86% of respondents had at least one certification from any credentialing organization, and 26% had multiple certifications.
"The salary survey validates the earning power of safety and health professionals, demonstrating the advantage of adding credentials and gaining experience," says ASSP President Jim Smith, M.S., CSP.
"It should encourage people within the industry to seek accredited education programs and professional certifications to maximize their earning potential in such a dynamic field."
The survey showed that formal education also correlates positively with salary levels.
Those with a doctoral degree typically earned $16,000 more annually than those with a bachelor's degree, and $20,000 more than those with an associate's degree.
Examining a typical workday revealed that the most time is spent on safety functions (26%) and safety management (15%).
Traveling for their job consumes about one day per week. These safety professionals primarily work in company offices (58%) versus in the field (30%) or at a home office (12%).

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