Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist

Impact: Employee well-being, environmental protection, regulatory compliance

Ensures compliance with environmental regulations, promotes workplace safety, and develops health programs to protect employees and the environment.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
70% Team / 30% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
High
Travel
10-20% domestic for site visits and training
Schedule flexibility
Moderate
Remote work
Limited Remote
Typical work hours
40-50 hours/week
Stress level
High

At a glance

Median salary
$85,000
Entry-level
$55,000 - $75,000
Senior
$110,000+
Growth by 2033
7% (average)
Demand
Growing
Freelance potential
Moderate
Salary growth potential
High to 80-100% growth from entry to senior
Typical student debt
$30,000 - $60,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Environmental Regulations
  • OSHA Standards
  • Risk Assessment
  • Incident Investigation
  • Safety Audits
  • Waste Management
  • Industrial Hygiene

Soft skills

  • Problem-solving
  • Communication
  • Attention to Detail
  • Critical Thinking
  • Adaptability

Technical complexity: High

How to get there

Minimum education
Bachelor's Degree
Licensing
Optional
Years to mid-career
3-5 years
Years to senior
7-10 years
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

    Where you can go from here

      Typical progression

      1. EHS Specialist
      2. Senior EHS Specialist
      3. EHS Manager
      4. Director of EHS

      Future outlook

      Automation probability
      20% to low risk
      AI disruption risk
      Low
      Demand trend
      Growing

      How people feel about it

      Overall satisfaction
      3.9/10
      Meaning
      4.2/10
      Work-life balance
      3.2/10
      Prestige
      7.5/10
      Social perception
      High

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