The average starting salary of an IH/OH professional is on par with software or chemical engineers, which according to a Forbes 2017 report are the highest-paid degrees. That, notes the American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA), makes the case that this is a growing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career.

The AIHA has just released its 2019 Salary and Compensation Study, a national survey of the salaries, benefits, other compensation structures, and demographics of industrial hygiene and occupational health (IH/OH) professionals. The purpose of the survey is to provide members of the IH/OH community with detailed information on industry compensation practices, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits, among other related metrics.

The survey, which was conducted in early 2019, had over a 21% response rate. Of the nearly 11,000 individuals queried, 2,347 responded and anonymously provided salary data on their positions. The findings are a snapshot of salary and compensation data for the IH/OH field and provide insights of the levels of education, certification, and demographic composition of these professionals.

Some key findings:

• A credentialed IH/OH professional earns on average more than $33,000 – 43,000 annually than others who have certifications or none at all.
• Many IH/OH professionals are employed by corporations that offer robust 401(k) contribution-matching programs, as well as other generous benefits packages.

"AIHA's Salary and Compensation Study offers a wide-ranging picture of the IH/OH profession," says Adam Seery, Certified Association Exe (CAE) AIHA's senior manager of market research and strategic initiatives. "IH/OH professionals will find the report helpful. The detailed salary information reflects their market value and allows them to make informed decisions for their careers. The study also helps companies plan and budget to scale their teams and craft viable offers to secure the best talent."

AIHA members will have the opportunity to explore the report findings via online interactive dashboards, which analyze compensation and benefits data by primary job role, age group, and geographic region, among other measures. An executive summary of the survey is available to the public and can be downloaded at no charge through AIHA's website.