Health and Safety Engineering - Health and Safety Engineer Career |
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Nature of Health and Safety Engineer Work |
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors prevent harm to people and property by applying knowledge of systems engineering and mechanical, chemical, and human performance principles. Using this specialized knowledge, they identify and measure potential hazards, such as the risk of fires or the dangers involved in handling of toxic chemicals. They recommend appropriate loss prevention measures according to the probability of harm and potential damage. Health and safety engineers develop procedures and designs to reduce the risk of illness, injury, or damage. Some work in manufacturing industries to ensure the designs of new products do not create unnecessary hazards. They must be able to anticipate, recognize, and evaluate hazardous conditions, as well as develop hazard control methods.
Health and Safety Engineer Career Job Outlook |
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors are projected to experience 10 percent employment growth over the projections decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Because health and safety engineers make production processes and products as safe as possible, their services should be in demand as concern increases for health and safety within work environments. As new technologies for production or processing are developed, health and safety engineers will be needed to ensure that they are safe.
Health and Safety Engineer Salaries |
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in various specialties is especially significant. Table 2 shows wage-and-salary earnings distributions in May 2006 for engineers in specialties covered in this statement.
Table 2: Earnings distribution by engineering specialty, May 2006
| Specialty |
Lowest 10% |
Lowest 25% |
Median |
Highest 25% |
Highest 10% |
| Aerospace engineers |
59,610 |
71,360 |
87,610 |
106,450 |
124,550 |
| Agricultural engineers |
42,390 |
53,040 |
66,030 |
80,370 |
96,270 |
| Biomedical engineers |
44,930 |
56,420 |
73,930 |
93,420 |
116,330 |
| Chemical engineers |
50,060 |
62,410 |
78,860 |
98,100 |
118,670 |
| Civil engineers |
44,810 |
54,520 |
68,600 |
86,260 |
104,420 |
| Computer hardware engineers |
53,910 |
69,500 |
88,470 |
111,030 |
135,260 |
| Electrical engineers |
49,120 |
60,640 |
75,930 |
94,050 |
115,240 |
| Electronics engineers, except computer |
52,050 |
64,440 |
81,050 |
99,630 |
119,900 |
| Environmental engineers |
43,180 |
54,150 |
69,940 |
88,480 |
106,230 |
| Health and safety engineers |
41,050 |
51,630 |
66,290 |
83,240 |
100,160 |
| Industrial engineers |
44,790 |
55,060 |
68,620 |
84,850 |
100,980 |
| Marine engineers and naval architects |
45,200 |
56,280 |
72,990 |
90,790 |
113,320 |
| Materials engineers |
46,120 |
57,850 |
73,990 |
92,210 |
112,140 |
| Mechanical engineers |
45,170 |
55,420 |
69,850 |
87,550 |
104,900 |
| Mining and geological engineers |
42,040 |
54,390 |
72,160 |
94,110 |
128,410 |
| Nuclear engineers |
65,220 |
77,920 |
90,220 |
105,710 |
124,510 |
| Petroleum engineers |
57,960 |
75,880 |
98,380 |
123,130 |
Over 145,600 |
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Table 3: Average starting salary by engineering specialty and degree , 2007
| Curriculum |
Bachelor's |
Master's |
Ph.D. |
| Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical |
$53,408 |
$62,459 |
$73,814 |
| Agricultural |
49,764 |
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| Architectural |
48,664 |
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| Bioengineering and biomedical |
51,356 |
59,240 |
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| Chemical |
59,361 |
68,561 |
73,667 |
| Civil |
48,509 |
48,280 |
62,275 |
| Computer |
56,201 |
60,000 |
92,500 |
| Electrical/electronics and communications |
55,292 |
66,309 |
75,982 |
| Environmental/environmental health |
47,960 |
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| Industrial/manufacturing |
55,067 |
64,759 |
77,364 |
| Materials |
56,233 |
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| Mechanical |
54,128 |
62,798 |
72,763 |
| Mining and mineral |
54,381 |
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| Nuclear |
56,587 |
59,167 |
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| Petroleum |
60,718 |
57,000 |
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Footnotes:
(NOTE) Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers
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