Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Jobs in Des Moines, IA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Des Moines, the May 2025 median for occupational health and safety specialists is about $92.3K, within 3 percent of the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $72.8K to $106.3K.

Pay

The median is the middle of safety specialists already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.

Percentile	Metro	IA	U.S.
25th	$72,800	$71,170	$69,560
Median	$92,310	$87,830	$90,150
75th	$106,260	$103,540	$111,690

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

4.5

Metro employment

390

National growth, 2025 to 2035

Unpublished

National openings a year

Unpublished

This is the same score as the free check.

License and training

States do not license most safety specialists. Employers often prefer the CSP from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals or the CIH from ABIH. Read the posting for the credential the role expects.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupational health and safety specialists

The work

You inspect, investigate incidents, and train staff. You keep the records an inspector or accreditor will ask for.

Some days are rounds on the units. Others are a committee meeting and a plan to fix what the last survey found.

Nearby metros

Ames, IA · 31 miles
Waterloo, IA · 91 miles
Cedar Rapids, IA · 103 miles
Iowa City, IA · 108 miles

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists hiring pages

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Questions

Do I need a license for safety work in Iowa?

Usually not. Employers in Des Moines may still prefer the CSP or CIH.

What should a hospital in Des Moines weigh when hiring a safety specialist?

Ask about healthcare survey experience. Des Moines has a deeper bench of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 5% over the Iowa median.