Paying attention to safety issues can help reduce potential expenses for a company; while that once might have meant greater investment in safety programs and professionals, the economy forced cut backs. This has translated into smaller budgets for safety professionals, some of whom have experienced salary freezes.

One third of safety professionals experienced or anticipated layoffs in 2009, and one-fourth reported a salary freeze, according to a study conducted last year by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. However, the need for safety professionals is still on the rise, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects increased employment of 9 percent over the next decade.

Indeed, surveys conducted by industry publications such as Safety + Health magazine find that half of safety professionals consider their jobs to be “very stable” in spite of the economy, and 52.5 percent expect the role of the safety and health professional to expand in the next five years.

A safety professional's typical duties include creating, implementing, and managing programs to reduce or eliminate occupational injuries, illnesses, deaths, and financial losses. This position coordinates safety activities to ensure implementation of safety activities throughout organizations, and might also store and retrieve statistical data.

Certification pays well.

There are a number of certifications available for safety professionals to attain, and it can have a positive effect on their salary levels.

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), a peer certification board for the safety industry, conducted a salary survey in 2009. The data is broken out by safety certifications, such as Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST), and Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

A CSP tends to earn more than safety practitioners with other certifications, the survey says. The average salary for a CSP is $99,446 (see Table 1). More than three-quarters of professionals are eligible for bonus pay (75.9 percent), and the average amount is 10.4 percent. Higher pay goes to those safety professionals who are vice presidents, presidents, and owners of companies.

The average pay for OHSTs is $79,029, according to BCSP survey. The average bonus is 7.4 percent, for which 67.4 percent of OHST professionals are eligible. The survey says CHSTs earn an average salary of $83,863, and 80.6 percent are eligible for a bonus, which averages 8.9 percent.

Another survey, from Economic Research Institute's Salary Expert, shows the average salary for safety managers in select cities. That survey reveals that the highest average salary goes to those working in New York, at $95,317 (see Table 2). The cities with the next highest salaries are Boston, with $89,041, and Los Angeles with $89,009. The lowest salary of $77,775 can be found in Phoenix, followed by $79,098 in Charlotte, NC.

For more information:The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) salary survey can be found online at http://www.bcsp.org in the form of a results engine. BCSP's contact information is 208 Burwash Avenue, Savoy, IL 61874; 217-359-9263. Cost: free.

Salary Expert from Economic Research Institute can be found at http://www.salaryexpert.com. ERI's contact information is 11 Bellwether Way, Suite 107, Bellingham, WA 98225; 800-292-2198. Cost: variable.

Safety + Health magazine can be found online at the National Safety Council at http://www.nsc.org. Contact information: 1121 Spring Lake Drive Itasca, IL 60143; 800-621-7615.

HFES' 2009 Salary and Compensation Survey can be found at http://www.hfes.org. Contact information: P.O. Box 1369, Santa Monica, CA 90406; 310-394-1811. Cost: $300

Copyright 2010, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.