High Demand for OEHS graduates means scholarships and immediate job placement
Have you talked with your students about the growing field of occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS)? Traditionally known as Industrial Hygienists (IH), these experts are in high-demand by companies across the globe.
Have you talked with your students about the growing field of occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS)? Traditionally known as Industrial Hygienists, these experts are in high-demand by companies across the globe.
Companies across all industries are recruiting directly from universities before graduation, to ensure they hire the professionals they need. And because demand continues for this talent pool, the scholarship opportunities for college students choosing OEHS are robust.
Talk with your students about the benefits of an OEHS career:
Little to no tuition debt, due to abundance of scholarships offered for IH students
High demand upon graduation
Higher-than-average starting salary, compared to other science or health-based careers
Strong career path
On-the-job flexibility and spontaneity
Altruistic career, helping others stay healthy and safe
A future in OEHS is for students interested in:
Pre-med
Pre-pharma
Biomedical/biochemistry engineering
Biology
Physics
Nursing
Epidemiology
Toxicology
STEM College Student Recruitment
This is a short presentation you can share with your students that focuses on the benefits of a career in the OEHS profession, including scholarships, career opportunities, salary stats, typical job activities and so much more.
OEHS careers promise high job placement, with internships in natural resource, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, oil and gas companies, mining, federal and state government departments, national energy labs and chemical manufacturing, among many others.
According to the 2019 AIHA Salary Survey, the average starting salary among young professionals was $58,300; after 10 years with their certificate, the reported average annual base salary in the US was $113,641.
Each day is different, and the “office” could be a manufacturing plant, a lab, an oil rig, a construction site, a railway or a potential natural disaster site. While the possibilities are endless, the commonalities are the knowledge and expertise to prevent health and safety risks:
Protect workers (and the environment) from oil spills at refineries
Prevent injuries at construction sites
Work with software developers in specialized health information technology
Help first responders and safety professionals better prepare for natural disasters
Consult with chemical manufacturers to ensure proper storage and compliance
Transform mining sites into more ‘green’ platforms, ensuring sustainability
Lead a scientific research firm in safely developing pharmaceuticals
Membership has helped him establish himself amongst his peers.
Benefits of Belonging
Jacob Shedd, PhD candidate at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and AIHA member since 2017 speaks about the importance of getting involved with AIHA from the beginning as a student and the benefits of membership.
I was a pre-med student, biochemistry major in college. After job shadowing, I realized while I wanted to help people, medicine might not be for me. My junior year, I took an environmental health class which included OH&S, focusing on public health and prevention. I learned I would get to use the science, math and chemistry I love, and help people without being in a hospital.
Now that I’m a professor, I strongly encourage my students to look into Occupational Health and Safety as a career. With a career in OH&S, there’s a career path, job placement, and no high debt after graduation.
"
Dan Autenrieth, Ph.D., CIH, CSP
Assistant Professor, Science & Engineering•Montana Tech
Teacher and Guidance Counselor Resources
Here you'll find various resources aimed at helping you represent the IH/OEHS profession. You'll find tips on doing a presentation, videos that showcase various disciplines within the profession, and resources to share with students and professionals looking for an exciting and rewarding career in industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety.
