How Much Can I Make as a Laser Safety Officer?

a man in safety gear standing in front of a machine.

Suppose you’re considering a career as a Laser Safety Officer (LSO). In that case, you might be wondering about the potential salary and opportunities for advancement. According to recent data from ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for an LSO in the United States is $64,958, with salaries ranging from $20,000 to $135,000. By obtaining LSO certification online, which typically takes [6 months to a year], costs around [$ 500 to $ 1000], and requires a [high school diploma or equivalent], you can enhance your skills and increase your earning potential in this growing field.

As a Laser Safety Officer, you play a crucial role in ensuring the safe use of lasers in various settings, including healthcare, manufacturing, and research facilities. Your duties may include conducting safety audits, developing and implementing safety protocols, training staff on laser safety, and maintaining safety records. To understand the specific duties and responsibilities of an LSO, refer to our blog post, ‘What is an LSO.’ While OSHA may not explicitly require the appointment of an LSO, it is strongly recommended by industry standards and best practices. Our article, ‘Does OSHA require LSO,’ provides further insights on this topic.

Suppose you’re interested in becoming a Laser Safety Officer. In that case, there are several steps you can take to pursue this career path. Our blog post, ‘How to be an LSO,’ outlines this role’s education, training, and certification requirements. One of the most important steps is to complete a comprehensive LSO certification program, which typically takes [6 months to a year] and costs around [$ 500 to $ 1000]. While this may seem like a significant investment, it’s important to consider the long-term benefits. By equipping yourself with the knowledge and skills to manage laser safety in your organization effectively, you’re not just securing a job, but you’re also opening doors to a world of career growth and advancement.

At Laser Safety Certification, we provide a variety of certification courses tailored to meet the requirements of professionals in various industries. If you have queries about our programs or the certification process, visit our ‘Course FAQs‘ page for answers to common inquiries.

By investing in your education and acquiring LSO certification, you’re not just securing a job, but you’re also unlocking avenues to a realm of career growth and advancement. With the escalating use of lasers across diverse industries, the demand for competent Laser Safety Officers is projected to skyrocket in the forthcoming years. By staying abreast with the latest industry standards and best practices, you can position yourself as a valuable asset to any organization that relies on laser technology.

LSO Salaries in the US 

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $135,000 and as low as $20,000, the majority of Laser Safety Officer salaries currently range between $34,000 (25th percentile) to $85,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $123,500 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Laser Safety Officer varies greatly (by as much as $51,500), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Laser Safety Officer jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

Note – This blog with new numbers from Sept, 2022… but you can clock the link below and get today’s numbers…


Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Laser Safety Officer Jobs

We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Laser Safety Officer job is above the national average. Topping the list is Atkinson, NE, with San Francisco, CA and Bolinas, CA close behind in the second and third positions. Bolinas, CA beats the national average by $13,080 (20.1%), and Atkinson, NE furthers that trend with another $15,913 (24.5%) above the $64,958 average.

With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Laser Safety Officer appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 12% between Atkinson, NE and Seattle, WA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Laser Safety Officer role.


City Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
Atkinson, NE $80,871 $6,739 $1,555 $38.88
San Francisco, CA $78,587 $6,548 $1,511 $37.78
Bolinas, CA $78,038 $6,503 $1,500 $37.52
Frankston, TX $75,654 $6,221 $1,435 $35.89
San Jose, CA $74,189 $6,182 $1,426 $35.67
Belle, WV $73,858 $6,154 $1,420 $35.51
Jackson, WY $73,058 $6,090 $1,405 $35.14
Diamond Ridge, AK $72,988 $6,082 $1,403 $35.09
Barnstable Town, MA $72,108 $6,009 $1,386 $34.67
Seattle, WA $71,695 $5,974 $1,378 $34.47
Source: ZipRecruiter


We found at least five jobs related to the Laser Safety Officer job category that pay more per year than a typical Laser Safety Officer salary. Top examples of these roles include: Process Safety Manager, Corporate Safety Director, and Medical Safety Officer.

Importantly, all of these jobs are paid between $34,029 (52.4%) and $56,684 (87.3%) more than the average Laser Safety Officer salary of $64,958. If you’re qualified, getting hired for one of these related Laser Safety Officer jobs may help you make more money than that of the average Laser Safety Officer position.


Job Title Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
Medical Safety Officer $121,642 $10,136 $2,339 $58.48
Corporate Safety Director $118,125 $9,843 $2,271 $56.79
Medical Safety Officer $115,719 $9,643 $2,225 $55.63
Director Safety $101,124 $8,427 $1,944 $48.62
Safety Engineering $98,987 $8,248 $1,903 $47.59
Source: ZipRecruiter


How we can help

Get started today by enrolling your company. Then select the Laser Safety Officer certification course that meets your needs– Industrial, Medical/Healthcare, Veterinary or Cosmetic. Or select the Kit Bundle that for the laser safety training kit to establish your workplace laser safety program.  We are here to answer any questions.   Just email us at info@lasersafetycertification.com or check out our FAQ section for answers to common questions.


Sources

[1] ZipRecruiter: Laser Safety Officer search: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Laser-Safety-Officer-Salary


 

Comments
    • Hi Katherine, Zip Recruiter (via the source link at the bottom) does not seem to break out salaries by type of LSO, but it indicates Florida has a LSO average annual salary of $56643 with an hourly average of $26.27.

Comments are closed.
Skip to content