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Types of Degrees OSHA Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many occupational safety & health technology graduations there were in 2021-2022 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 1,395 |
Associate Degree | 589 |
Basic Certificate | 248 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 23 |
What OSHA Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to osha were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for OSHA Majors
Osha majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Skills for OSHA Majors
The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to osha:
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - 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.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Abilities for OSHA Majors
As you progress with your osha degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in OSHA?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of osha majors is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 11 |
Black or African American | 72 |
Hispanic or Latino | 106 |
White | 300 |
International Students | 2 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 98 |
Geographic Diversity
OSHA appeals to people across the globe. About 0.3% of those with this major are international students.
How Much Do OSHA Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
The median salary for someone in a career related to osha is $74,940. This median refers to all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to OSHA
Some degrees associated with osha may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.
Find out what the typical degree level is for osha careers below.
Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 4.7% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 75.1% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 4.7% |
Master’s Degree | 18.8% |
Online OSHA Programs
The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 21 | 1 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 39 | 7 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 10 | 5 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 16 | 7 |
Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 1 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in OSHA Worth It?
The median salary for a osha grad is $74,940 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 88% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $700,800 after 20 years!
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Trades Related to OSHA
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to osha.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Quality Control Technology | 499 |
Industrial Safety Technology | 237 |
Other Quality Control & Safety Technologies | 105 |
Hazardous Materials Information Systems Technology | 5 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Gina Collecchia under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.