by our College Data Analytics TeamOccupational Safety & Health Technology was the 243rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 3,008 degrees in this year alone. This 408 less than the prior year, a decrease of 13.6%.
Our 2023 Best Occupational Safety & Health Technology Schools ranking analyzes 30 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for occupational safety and health technology/technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of OSHA programs later in this article.
Talking to others to convey information effectively has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to OSHA. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most OSHA degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional OSHA certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different OSHA degree levels. You can get anything from a in occupational safety and health technology/technician to the highest OSHA degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common OSHA degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to OSHA, with approximately 72.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for OSHA workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 75.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.7% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.7% |
Most workers in OSHA have at least a associate degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in occupational safety and health technology/technician have received.
The education level required is different depending on the OSHA career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your OSHA degree? Occupational Safety & Health Technology careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational safety and health technology/technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 90,500 | 8.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for OSHA graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for occupational safety and health technology/technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers OSHA grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $74,940 |
With over 149 different OSHA degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased OSHA school rankings to help you with this.
Occupational Safety & Health Technology is one of 4 different types of Quality Control Technology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Technology | 440 |
| Industrial Safety Technology | 274 |
| Other Quality Control & Safety Technologies | 102 |
Image Credit: By Gina Collecchia under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
