Comparing Safety Officers to Safety Engineers
Safety officers and safety engineers are responsible for using their skills to ensure that people work in safe environments. One of the primary differences between these professionals is who they are employed by, and safety engineers can expect to earn a higher salary.
| Job Title | Educational Requirements | Median Salary* (2021) | Job Outlook* (2020-2030) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Officer | Bachelor's Degree | $77,560 (for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists) | 7% (for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists) |
| Safety Engineer | Bachelors' Degree | $99,040 (for Health and Safety Engineers) | 6% (for Health and Safety Engineers) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Responsibilities of Safety Officers vs. Safety Engineers
Safety officers and safety engineers play important roles to ensure that people are working in safe environments. Their job involves identifying potential safety issues and determining how to change procedures or environments so that they can reduce the chances of employees being hurt. Safety engineers often work for the same company as the staff that they are protecting. Safety officers typically work for the government and their job is to enforce workplace safety regulations. They have the authority to fine companies that violate safety or environmental regulations.
Safety Officer
Safety officers are also known as occupational health and safety specialists. They typically study occupational health and safety and are required to have a bachelor's degree. Their work can involve a lot of walking and they may also need to enter small, confined areas while performing their duties. They are often employed by federal, local and state governments. Their duties involve enforcing workplace regulations to ensure that workplace environments are safe for their employees.
Job responsibilities of a safety officer include:
- Visiting work sites
- Performing inspections to identify potential safety hazards
- Ensuring workplaces are following applicable safety regulations
- Talking to employees about accidents or incidents that need to be investigated
- Recommending changes to improve safety
- Training people to respond to workplace emergencies
Safety Engineer
Safety engineers can begin their career with a bachelor's degree. They typically study engineering, or they can study occupational health and safety. Manufacturing and construction companies are the primary employers of safety engineers, and they primarily work in an office environment. At times they may need to visit work sites. They need to be observant and patient so that they can thoroughly assess workplace conditions and processes.
Job responsibilities of a safety engineer include:
- Traveling to construction sites or other locations
- Determining the appropriate safety protocols for using equipment
- Assessing workplace environments for safety risks
- Reviewing applicable regulations to ensure that they are followed
- Updating safety training for staff members
- Investigating workplace accidents
Related Careers
It's possible that if you're interested in becoming a safety officer that you might also be interested in a career as an environmental scientist, since environmental scientists are also involved in identifying environmental damage. Prospective safety engineers may also be interested in the work that construction inspectors do, since they also visit construction sites and ensure that regulations are followed.
