Occupational Health & Safety Specialist Salary in Long Beach, CA — 2026
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary data for Long Beach, CA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary in Long Beach, CA is $118,400 per year ($9,867/month, $57/hr). This reflects the local cost of living index of 148, which is 48% above the national average.
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist Take-Home Pay in Long Beach
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $118,400 |
| Federal Tax | -$17,663 |
| State Tax (9.3%) | -$11,011 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$9,058 |
| Annual Take-Home | $80,668 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $6,722 |
Living Cost Comparison
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist Requirements
Key Skills
Long Beach Job Market Overview
Long Beach, California has a population of 466,742 and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. The top industries are Shipping, Aerospace, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 30 minutes.
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Salary Percentile Breakdown — Occupational Health & Safety Specialist in Long Beach
Based on the cost-of-living-adjusted distribution for Occupational Health & Safety Specialist in Long Beach, CA, here's how earnings break down across the workforce:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $74,000 | $36/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $96,200 | $46/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $118,400 | $57/hr | Mid-career, 2-4 years |
| 75th | $146,520 | $70/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $182,040 | $88/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model calibrated to Occupational Health & Safety Specialist compensation data. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Long Beach's Shipping sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salaries in Long Beach have grown approximately 13.0% over the past 5 years, outpacing local CPI inflation in many cases. Here's the historical and projected trajectory:
Year-over-year, an average Occupational Health & Safety Specialist can expect a 12.1% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Long Beach. Negotiation, certifications (CSP, CIH), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Long Beach vs National Average
The national median Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary is $80,000. In Long Beach, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $118,400 is 48.0% above the national figure. This reflects Long Beach's cost of living index of 148 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Occupational Health & Safety Specialists, this means: rent typically consumes 31.2% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Long Beach costs about 8.7× annual take-home. Homeownership in Long Beach on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Shipping in Long Beach
Long Beach's economy is anchored by Shipping, Aerospace, Healthcare, with 466,742 residents and 4.5% unemployment as of 2026. Occupational Health & Safety Specialists working in the Shipping sector typically earn at or above the local median due to industry-specific demand. The state's overall job growth rate is 1.5%, and Occupational Health & Safety Specialist occupations specifically are projected to grow 6.0% nationally through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salaries in Long Beach, CA:
- Base salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, calibrated against the national Occupational Health & Safety Specialist median of $80,000.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Long Beach index of 148 relative to the national baseline of 100, sourced from the C2ER Cost of Living Index and BLS regional CPI-U data.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model standard in labor economics, calibrated to the entry/median/senior compensation tiers reported in BLS OEWS.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), CA state income tax of 9.3%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($15,000 single filer 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-80 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Occupational Health & Safety Specialist job projections and education requirements
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation and cost-of-living data
- U.S. Census Bureau — Long Beach QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-80 — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Long Beach unemployment rate
Last reviewed: 2026. Salary data updated annually as new BLS releases become available. Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Shipping vs others in Long Beach), specific skill set (OSHA Regulations, Risk Assessment, Incident Investigation), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary in Long Beach, CA?
How much does a Occupational Health & Safety Specialist take home in Long Beach after taxes?
Is Long Beach a good city for Occupational Health & Safety Specialists?
What skills are needed for a Occupational Health & Safety Specialist in Long Beach?
How does Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary in Long Beach compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary in Long Beach, CA?
The median Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary in Long Beach, CA is $118,400 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 148. Entry-level Occupational Health & Safety Specialists earn around $74,000, while senior-level professionals can earn $146,520 or more.
How much does a Occupational Health & Safety Specialist take home in Long Beach after taxes?
A Occupational Health & Safety Specialist earning the median salary of $118,400 in Long Beach, CA takes home approximately $80,668 per year ($6,722/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 31.9%.
Is Long Beach a good city for Occupational Health & Safety Specialists?
Long Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 148 (above national average). Occupational Health & Safety Specialists here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.5% and top industries include Shipping, Aerospace, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Occupational Health & Safety Specialist in Long Beach?
Key skills for Occupational Health & Safety Specialists include OSHA Regulations, Risk Assessment, Incident Investigation, Training, Industrial Hygiene. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include CSP, CIH, OSHA 30.
How does Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary in Long Beach compare to the national average?
The national median Occupational Health & Safety Specialist salary is $80,000. In Long Beach, the adjusted salary is $118,400, which is 48.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.