California Median
$102,840
per year
Hourly Rate
$49.44
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+14% vs US median
US median $90,150
State Rank
#4 of 51
16,230 employed here
How much do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists make in California?
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists working in California earn a median salary of $102,840 per year, or about $49.44 per hour. That is 14% above the national median of $90,150 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $59,760 while the top 10% make $161,300 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,080 and $129,490 a year.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,760 | $28.73 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $77,080 | $37.06 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $102,840 | $49.44 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $129,490 | $62.25 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,300 | $77.55 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary in other states
District of Columbia $111,530Massachusetts $103,970Washington $102,920Rhode Island $101,740Colorado $101,400New Hampshire $101,260Alaska $99,270Illinois $98,270Maine $97,640Minnesota $96,990Connecticut $96,110New York $95,720Oregon $95,240Hawaii $94,840Nevada $94,360Wyoming $94,030North Dakota $93,250Maryland $91,820Ohio $91,460Virginia $90,800New Jersey $90,610Utah $90,200Louisiana $89,560Arizona $89,480Florida $88,820South Dakota $88,610South Carolina $88,080Iowa $87,830Vermont $87,210Pennsylvania $87,050Idaho $86,920North Carolina $86,650West Virginia $86,560Kansas $86,300Georgia $85,450Wisconsin $84,750New Mexico $84,510Mississippi $84,490Michigan $84,080Nebraska $83,990Kentucky $83,730Indiana $83,470Missouri $83,090Alabama $82,260Montana $81,330Tennessee $81,190Delaware $81,120Oklahoma $79,890Texas $79,660Arkansas $73,130
Working as Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in California
Nationally, about 141,000 people work as Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($102,840) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists make in California?
The median Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary in California is $102,840 per year, or about $49.44 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $59,760 at the entry level to $161,300 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Occupational Health and Safety Specialists about 14% more than the national median of $90,150. California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $102,840 a year. About 16,230 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.