USA Career Guide : Health and Safety Engineers
Education and Training Requirements for Health and Safety Engineers in US
To become health and safety engineer in United States one needs to study electrical, mechanical, industrial, chemical or a relevant course at college level. Minimum course duration is 4 years after which graduate degree BE / BS etc. is awarded. For post graduate studies like MS, ME etc. graduate degree in engineering is a must. Many colleges also offer integrated program of 5 year’s duration after which both graduate and post graduate degree is awarded. To entry into health and safety engineering career at college level one needs to take up physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics at high school level. Engineering degrees in United Stated are validated through ABET.
Industrial Overview
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics Health and safety engineers held about 23,700 jobs in 2010. The industries employing the largest numbers of health and safety engineers in May 2010 were as follows:
- Non-residential building construction - 9%
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services - 8%
- Architectural, engineering, and related services - 7%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals - 7%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals - 6%
Job Prospects for Health and Safety Engineers in the US
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment of health and safety engineers is expected to grow 13 percent from 2010 to 2020. Health and Safety Engineers get work opportunities in manufacturing industries to protect workers lives from possible hazards and to minimize costs. These engineers also get work opportunities in Defense, Hospitals, Construction and all other major industries where machines and men mixes together.
Pay of a Health and Safety Engineer in the US
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage of health and safety engineers was $75,430 in May 2010. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of health and safety engineers in May 2010 were as follows:
- State government, excluding education and hospitals - $82,760
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals - $81,130
- Architectural, engineering, and related services - $75,300
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services - $73,520
- Nonresidential building construction - $68,360