Ranked list · updated 2026-10-09
Highest-paying workplace safety credentials
15 workplace safety credentials are ranked below by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. Every figure is quoted from the source named inside that credential's own guide, and the exam fee shown beside it comes from the awarding body.
- Credentials ranked
- 15
- Exam fees
- $50–$700
- Field
- Workplace Safety
Which workplace safety credentials lead to the highest published pay?
The 15 credentials below are ordered by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. The order is computed from the researched guides; the sentence printed for each credential is that guide's own sourced headline, reproduced verbatim so its attribution stays attached to the number.
| # | Credential | Published median for the occupation it unlocks (quoted) | Exam fee | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OSHA 30-Hour Construction | $106,980 median for construction managers (BLS, May 2024) | — | 2026-08 |
| 2 | OSHA 3115 Fall Protection | $83,910 median for occupational health and safety specialists (BLS, May 2024) | ~$700-$1,000 | 2026-08 |
| 3 | OSHA 510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry | $80,820 median for first-line supervisors of construction trades (BLS, May 2024) | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
| 4 | OSHA 511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry | OSHA 511 is the general-industry standards course for safety professionals: occupational health and safety specialists sit in the $80,000+ range (BLS context, May 2024) | $600-$800 | 2026-08 |
| 5 | OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Outreach Training | $72,590 median for first-line supervisors of production and operating workers — the supervisory occupations OSHA 30 serves (BLS, May 2024) | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
| 6 | NFPA 70E Electrical Safety in the Workplace Training | $62,350 median for electricians (BLS, May 2024) — and NFPA 70E training is a compliance requirement employers mandate, not a credential that raises pay on its own | ~$200-$500 | 2026-08 |
| 7 | HAZWOPER 24-Hour Training | Expect hazardous-materials-removal pay at a May 2024 median of $48,490 (BLS) — the 24-hour HAZWOPER training is the OSHA-required gate for TSD-facility and limited-site workers, and pay climbs with 40-hour certification and specialisation | $200-400 | 2026-08 |
| 8 | HAZWOPER 40-Hour Training | HAZWOPER 40-hour is the entry gate for hazardous-waste work: hazardous materials removal workers earned a $48,490 median in May 2024 (BLS) | $200-$600 | 2026-08 |
| 9 | HAZWOPER 8-Hour Annual Refresher | The 8-hour refresher keeps HAZWOPER workers current: hazardous materials removal workers earned a $48,490 median in May 2024 (BLS) | $50-$150 | 2026-08 |
| 10 | HAZWOPER 8-Hour Supervisor Training | $48,490 median for hazardous materials removal workers (BLS, May 2024) | ~$200-$400 | 2026-08 |
| 11 | OSHA 10-Hour Construction | $46,050 median wage for construction laborers (BLS, May 2024) | — | 2026-08 |
| 12 | EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Renovator Certification | RRP certification is a legal requirement for renovation work in pre-1978 housing: construction laborer and painter medians sit in the $46,000-$52,000 range (BLS, May 2024) | $50-$150 | 2026-08 |
| 13 | Pesticide Applicator Core Certification Exam | Expect the pesticide-applicator occupation at a May 2024 median of $45,200 (BLS) — the certification is the licence gate for the job, and commercial-applicator categories within turf and structural work pay more | $50-150 | 2026-08 |
| 14 | OSHA 10-Hour Maritime Industry Outreach Training | OSHA 10 maritime is an entry-level safety requirement in marine operations: water transportation and related roles carry transportation-group medians near $42,740 (BLS, May 2024) | $50-$150 | 2026-08 |
| 15 | OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Outreach Training | $38,860 median for stockers and order fillers — a representative entry production/warehouse occupation (BLS, May 2024) | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
What does this ranking actually measure?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks, most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
Each row also carries the month its guide was last checked against the primary source, so you can see how current the figure is before you rely on it. Fees and pass rules change; the guide linked from every row carries the authoritative reference.
Where does this field sit in the site-wide ranking?
The main ranking pools all 424 credential-with-median pairs across 15 fields, so a credential that leads this page may still sit outside the site-wide top 25 — and a credential outside this page's top few may rank highly overall. Use whichever view matches the question you are answering.
- All fields, site-wide ranking 424 ranked
- Accounting & Tax 8 ranked
- Admissions & Academic Testing 33 ranked
- Allied Health & Medical Support 43 ranked
- Finance & Securities 20 ranked
- Fitness, Wellness & Personal Care 27 ranked
- Food Safety & Hospitality 17 ranked
- Government & Public Safety 18 ranked
- Healthcare & Clinical Licensure 10 ranked
- Insurance & Risk 7 ranked
- IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity 122 ranked
- Project Management & Business 22 ranked
- Teaching & Education 42 ranked
- Trades, Construction & Engineering 24 ranked
- Transportation & Aviation 16 ranked
Frequently asked questions
How many workplace safety credentials are ranked here?
15 of this field's published guides carry a citable occupation median and are ranked below. Site-wide, 424 credentials across 15 fields are ranked, so this page is a subset of the main list rather than an alternative to it.
What does a workplace safety credential cost to attempt?
Exam fees across this field's ranked credentials run from about $50 to $700. Fee is what the exam costs to sit; the median quoted for each row is what the occupation pays once you hold the credential, and the two do not move together.
Is the highest-paying workplace safety credential the right one to start with?
Not necessarily. The ranking orders by the median for the occupation each credential unlocks, and several of the credentials here are sequential steps in the same career path rather than competing alternatives — one may be the prerequisite for another on this list. Read the guide for a credential's eligibility rules before treating its position here as a starting recommendation.
Why is a credential I expected to see missing?
Only credentials with a published occupation median appear. A credential whose guide does not carry a citable median is left out rather than estimated, and any credential whose researched text marks its exam as retired, withdrawn or no longer obtainable is removed — pointing at a dead exam in a recommendation list would be actively misleading.