Career Explorer Science
Human edge, growing
Occupational health and safety specialists
Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 93% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +18.5% by 2035, much faster than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and ethical judgement.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $90,150
- Job growth to 2035
- +18.5%
- Openings a year
- 17,100
- People doing it (2025)
- 143,000
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Advise others on healthcare or wellness issues
- Present research or technical information
- Prepare informational or instructional materials
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Inspect facilities or equipment
- Train others on health or medical topics
- Develop public or community health programs
What the work looks like
- Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
- Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as employers increasingly prioritize worker health and safety. This will be largely driven by an increased focus on employee well-being, the introduction of new technologies in the workplace, and a greater prevalence of climate-related hazards.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Occupational therapy assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +21.5%
- Physical therapist assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +23.0%
- Physician assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 97, +21.1%
- Orthotists and prosthetistsHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +12.9%
Also known as: Industrial Hygiene Consultant, Industrial Hygienist, Safety Consultant, Safety Specialist, Chemical Hygiene Officer, EHS Officer (Environmental Health and Safety Officer), Health and Safety Analyst, Industrial Hygienist Consultant.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.