by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing explores Occupational And Environmental Health Nursing. A Program That Prepares Registered Nurses To Deliver Nursing Health Care Services To Workers And Worker Populations In Clinical Settings And At Job Sites. Includes Instruction In Public And Community Health, Occupational Safety And Health, Occupational Health Surveillance, Case Management, Fitness For Duty Testing, Medication, Allergies And Immunization, Emergency And Ambulatory Care, And Applicable Laws And Regulations. Read on to learn the essential details every occupational and environmental health nursing major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering occupational and environmental health nursing programs.
In the U.S., occupational and environmental health nursing is a widely-pursued major, with 22 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for occupational and environmental health nursing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of occupational and environmental health nursing programs later in this article.
Studies in Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations occupational and environmental health nursing graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a occupational and environmental health nursing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a occupational and environmental health nursing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several occupational and environmental health nursing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 22 |
People currently working in careers related to occupational and environmental health nursing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 44.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.8% |
| First professional degree | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in occupational and environmental health nursing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying occupational and environmental health nursing opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to occupational and environmental health nursing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational and environmental health nursing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,793,806 | 10.2% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 2,031,912 | 3.3% |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | 1,937,405 | 12.3% |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 1,349,827 | 0.0% |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 790,445 | 5.7% |
| Critical Care Nurses | 590,563 | 14.4% |
| Acute Care Nurses | 191,452 | 4.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of occupational and environmental health nursing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,453 |
| 4 years | $80,149 |
| 5 years | $90,156 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for occupational and environmental health nursing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers occupational and environmental health nursing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $143,854 |
| Registered Nurses | $105,741 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,718 |
| Critical Care Nurses | $65,103 |
| Acute Care Nurses | $56,247 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | $52,889 |
With 3 different occupational and environmental health nursing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased occupational and environmental health nursing school rankings to help you.
Those considering occupational and environmental health nursing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 256,965 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 14,847 |
| Nursing Practice | 9,206 |
| Nursing Administration | 7,911 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 4,379 |
| Nursing Science | 4,245 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other | 4,125 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,457 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,960 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 1,505 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
