Posted By Glyn Phillips
Allison, I am not sure that this question can be answered. It depends on many factors. In my experience the industry sector plays a big part in the salary offered. Industry such as chemical, petrochemical, heavy manufacturing etc. tend to pay higher salaries than smaller or less hazardous industries. On top of this the salary may be dependant on the experience that is being asked for and the level of authority you will have.

Look around at safety related job web sites and see what similar job functions are being paid. I would also be talking to the agencies that specialise in this industry and ask them what the 'going rate' is for your qualification / experience in that area.

I have come across adverts for HSE positions that ask for Diploma qualifications, COMAH experience, budget control experience, ISO 18001 / 14001 / 9001 auditing etc. etc. and are offering £14k. This to me says that the advertiser has no idea what they want in the first place and are just throwing their net wide to see what they will catch.

If you are relatively new to the H&S business you may have to take a position that suits you for a short period to gain some experience, then move on.

I hope you get the position (and money) you feel you deserve.

Glyn

Posted By Alison Phillips
Thank you both for your time.

Posted By Alison Phillips
Looks like I'm underpaid too...
by about £10 000, too! :o(

Posted By Gareth W Jones
Yes, the underpaid theme seems a to be common factor, perhaps the survey included a lot of IOSH workers from the London area?? Or perhaps some members included in the survey have been telling porkies???

Posted By Alison Phillips
Toecap - I agree that the benefits also need to be considered - (but think I may take offence that you think coming up to forty means time is pressing on!!)I am relatively new to H&S, having only been involed since 2004, but I do think that the work I am doing is undervalued and in 2006 I am just above your starting salary, having been 'plucked' from the workforce at random ( i.e. I was volunteered by management)to take on a failing system and turn it around to a successful and effective system that it is today.

from an over 40(ish)Alison

Posted By ITK CMIOSH
I suppose it is all relative, I could probably land a job that paid £10K more in nearby cities such as Leeds and Sheffield, but travelling on the M1 twice a day for up to an hour, the cost of fuel (which has gone up again), wear and tear on the car etc etc would take up most of the bulk of the "extra" salary.

Whereas now my salary may not be huge, but my employer matches my pension contributions, I work flexible hours and travel two miles to work.

Posted By Paul Leaman
Nebosh Gen, just over five years, under £25k, Car but non expensed. East Anglia area.. but positions are like rocking horse manure, so I'm grateful I am employed.

Posted By Medusa
Afternoon all,
I've got my Nat Gen Cert, and was lucky(?!?) to get my first job in H&S on a decommissioned power plant close to home - for that all important "experience" I was happy to settle for 18k. The experience in a field like this was worth more to me than the money, bless my naivety. Nearly 2 years on from jumping in at the deep end I'm hoping to jump up the salary scale a wee bit to at least the mid twenties. (Fingers crossed as I've got an interview this week.)But I agree, it depends on where you work and who you work for. Some companies regard H&S a waste of money and just want someone to make sure all the paperwork is ok. Or am I being too harsh?

Posted By anon1234
If people are unhappy with their lot they can always apply for jobs elsewhere - however, there seems to be a general reluctance to this.

Recently I advertised a post in the SHP and literally only got a handful of responses, even though we were prepared to pay £30-40K plus a lot of the usual large company benefits.

Fortunatley we had sufficent good candidates to choose from.

We were looking for someone around the TechIOSH level and judging from the number of postings on this forum there are alot of people looking in the general vicinity of our preferred location for this post.

I hope we do better when we advertise again in the near future for a similar but different post.

So if you are really all out there looking for new jobs I suggest you review and brush up your CVs an apply for the jobs advertised in SHP - although I'm sure some of you are it doesn't seem like it at times

Posted By JPK
WOW!

I have only recently just posted on here for some advice on looking for work in H&S, and the concern I had was with regards the change in salary.

Looking at this thread it is evident that unless I go Freelance there is no chance of making the same money.
This does bode well for professionals in one of if not the most important side of the construction industry. I expect a salary that relates to my knowledge and experience.
It doesn't seem that organisations want to pay for that!

Posted By ITK CMIOSH
JPK QUOTE "I expect a salary that relates to my knowledge and experience"

You should consider a change of career because that does not seem to apply in Health and Safety, I wouldnt imagine there are many Chartered Surveyors/ Chartered Engineers/ Chartered Accountants on £25K.

I look in SHP monthly and am dismayed at salaries being offered up.

Posted By Lee Mac
Totally agree with the last posting, I honestly believe that H&S is undervalued financially. I appreciate that this not the case everywhere.

Basically we are the guys who are the Workplace Law points of contact,internal enforcers, many of us have to fight or at least put together a defense for claims/cases.

I honestly believe that the current climate that says £25-35k is sufficient for a decent H&S pro is totally inadequate. Especially as the previous posting mentions when you consider the salaries of other Chartered professionals out there.

The question I pose- how can it be changed?

Liam

Posted By JPK
Lee Mac,

How can it be changed? Is the question I ask myself and as rks states, its all about the selling point, although my experience of Project managers and designers is....

They dont want to be sold it, they just want it done!

The opinion of 'overkill' in H&S/Construction is slowly making it alot easier to show that there is a need for a well qualified H&S professional as the designers cannot longer shurk their responsiblities (although some try), and for someone 'well qualified' within any industry, you pay!

Lets hope this is leading to a salary or fee that will reflect the work that a H&S professional is 'expected' to and 'required' to put into a project!

Posted By ITK CMIOSH
JPK,

Yes you were clear, I actually agree with you.

ITK