How Much Does a Safety Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$115,160
Safety engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $115,160 a year, or $55.36 an hour. Half of safety engineers earn more than $115,160 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $171,250.
Pay percentiles for safety engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32.89 | $68,420 |
| 25th | $43.72 | $90,930 |
| 50th (median) | $55.36 | $115,160 |
| 75th | $68.74 | $142,980 |
| 90th | $82.33 | $171,250 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (SOC 17-2111). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for safety engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $131,540 | $63.24 | +14% |
| Massachusetts | $131,210 | $63.08 | +14% |
| New Hampshire | $130,500 | $62.74 | +13% |
| Ohio | $129,560 | $62.29 | +13% |
| Washington | $126,590 | $60.86 | +10% |
| Texas | $123,440 | $59.34 | +7% |
| Pennsylvania | $121,730 | $58.52 | +6% |
| Nevada | $121,660 | $58.49 | +6% |
| Colorado | $120,950 | $58.15 | +5% |
| Minnesota | $120,050 | $57.72 | +4% |
| United States | $115,160 | $55.36 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many safety engineers are there?
BLS counts about 21,450 safety engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors”. The most jobs are in Texas (4,320), California (2,470) and New York (1,570).
The mean (average) annual wage is $119,770, higher than the median of $115,160.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $9,597
- Biweekly
- $4,429
- Weekly
- $2,215
- Daily (8 hours)
- $443
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do safety engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for safety engineers is $55.36. The middle 50% earn between $43.72 and $68.74 an hour.
Which state pays safety engineers the most?
California has the highest median wage for safety engineers at $131,540, +14% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for safety engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of safety engineers earn less than $68,420 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.