Demand for professionals in the area of industrial hygiene--the scientists, engineers, and others who grapple with a variety of workplace and community health issues--is rising, according to those working in the field. Their responsibilities can include a range of activities, such as cleaning up oil spills and chemical leaks, measuring air samples, or designing safer manufacturing plants.
Compensation for those in the field has been high, reflecting the increasing emphasis placed by government, industry, and the public on improving the environment, according to a recently released survey conducted by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). The organization, located in Fairfax, Va., based its findings on responses from 1,575 of its 11,000 members.
Of those surveyed, 15.4 percent--primarily in consulting and some private-industry positions--earned more than $80,000 in 1993, the year assessed in the study. Salaries between $60,000 and $80,000 were reported by 30.6 percent. Another 41.8 percent were paid between ...
