Expansive Industry Survey Shows Higher Salaries Are Often the Result for those with the CIH® Credential

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene® (ABIH®) announces the release of results of an expansive 2015 safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) industry salary survey that was conducted in collaboration with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP), and the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM).
 
“Our purpose in conducting the survey was to learn more about the current economic climate, so we can better understand and report on trends in the profession, and in turn, serve ABIH® credential holders better,” said Nicole Greeson, CIH®, ABIH® Chair.  “In fact, the results from this industry-wide survey highlight the positive impact that having a license or credential can have on an individual’s professional development and overall compensation.” 
 
The survey results indicate that the median annual base salary of individuals holding the Certified Industrial Hygienist® (CIH®) or the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification is $105,000, nearly $22,000 greater than the median annual base salary of survey respondents who held no license or certification. The gap in median annual salary between those holding CIH® or CSP certifications and the typical Occupational Health and Safety Specialist is even greater—more than $30,000—according to salary information reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 
The survey results also show that individuals with both a CIH® and CSP and no other licenses or credentials are compensated nearly $18,000 more than the total median annual base salary of all full-time employees surveyed. Individuals holding these two certifications see a higher impact on their salaries than those who have only a CIH® or a CSP and one other license or credential.
 
The survey suggests that ABIH diplomates and AIHA members, that have tenure of five or more years, earn a higher median annual base salary compared with all full-time employees surveyed. These results indicate a growing recognition of the value of licenses and credentials in the industrial hygiene and safety fields, and quantify the reward that professionals see from substantiating their value with an accredited industrial hygiene and/or safety certification.
 
Data for the survey were collected from March 26 to April 7, 2015; the survey closed for tabulation with 9,258 responses.  The results from the survey are now available online in a new SH&E Industry Salary Survey and Calculator and are also accessible through the ABIH Website.
 
To learn more about the American Board of Industrial Hygiene®, Certified Industrial Hygienist® credential or to locate a CIH® to perform industrial hygiene services, please visit www.ABIH.org, email abih@ABIH.org or call (517) 321-2638.
 
About the American Board of Industrial Hygiene ®
Since 1960, ABIH®, a not-for-profit corporation, has been the world’s largest, premier organization for certifying professionals in the practice of industrial hygiene. ABIH® is responsible for ensuring high-quality certification including education, experience, examination, certification maintenance and ethics enforcement.  Currently, more than 6800 people are certified to use the CIH® designation.
 

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