by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Process Safety Technology involves the study of A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Engineers Engaged In Developing Methods To Mitigate Damage, Reduce Risks, And Prevent Accidents. Includes Instruction In Design For Injury Prevention, Engineering For Process Safety, Environmental Psychology, Function-Based Risk Analysis, Fundamentals Of Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Probability And Statistics, Risk Assessment And Reduction, And Safety Engineering. Read on to learn the important information every process safety technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering process safety technology programs.
Studies in Process Safety Technology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations process safety technology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a process safety technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a process safety technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to process safety technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.1% |
| Some college courses | 22.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 18.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.6% |
| Master’s degree | 3.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in process safety technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in process safety technology opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to process safety technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to process safety technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 266,539 | 2.0% |
| Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 138,570 | -0.5% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 54,625 | 9.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of process safety technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,389 |
| 4 years | $70,808 |
| 5 years | $79,621 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for process safety technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers process safety technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $88,689 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $50,036 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $48,647 |
Use our unbiased process safety technology school rankings to find the best fit for you.
Those considering process safety technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician | 3,147 |
| Quality Control Technology/Technician | 422 |
| Industrial Safety Technology/Technician | 258 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other | 111 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
