Occupational Health Nurse Salary in 2025: Corporate and Workplace Nursing Pay
By NurseCompensation Research Team · 2025-07-09 · 10 min read
Occupational health nurses earn $85,733 to $101,275 annually depending on the source. See how COHN certification, employer type, and industry sector affect this non-bedside specialty pay.
Occupational Health Nurse Salary in 2025: Corporate and Workplace Nursing Pay
Occupational health nursing (OHN) serves the health and safety needs of workers across industries—from manufacturing plants to corporate headquarters. This non-bedside specialty offers predictable hours, low physical demand, and competitive compensation that increasingly attracts experienced nurses seeking sustainable careers.
National Salary Overview
| Source | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Glassdoor (2026) | $101,275 | $48.69 |
| ZipRecruiter (2026) | $86,380 | $41.53 |
| PayScale (2026) | $82,016 ($39.43/hr) | $39.43 |
| NurseJournal/PayScale (2025) | $85,733 | $41.22 |
| NursingEducation/BLS | $94,480 | $45.42 |
| Research.com (2026) | $70,000 - $95,000 | — |
The consensus places occupational health nurse compensation at $82,000 - $101,000 nationally, roughly comparable to the general RN average but with significant schedule and lifestyle advantages.
Employer Types and Compensation
Corporate/Industrial Employers (In-House)
Large employers with on-site health services:
- Average salary: $85,000 - $115,000
- Industries: Manufacturing, oil/gas, tech, pharmaceuticals, automotive
- Benefits: Full corporate package (401k match, stock options at some companies, premium health insurance)
- Examples:
- Amazon: $80,000 - $105,000 (fulfillment center OHNs)
- ExxonMobil: $95,000 - $125,000
- Boeing: $90,000 - $115,000
- Tesla/manufacturing: $82,000 - $108,000
- Google/Meta (corporate wellness): $100,000 - $130,000
Occupational Health Clinics (Contract/Third-Party)
Clinic networks providing employer-contracted services:
- Average salary: $75,000 - $100,000
- Key employers: Concentra, WorkCare, U.S. HealthWorks (now Optum), CareOnSite
- Benefits: Standard healthcare benefits, less generous than corporate in-house
- Volume: Higher patient throughput than in-house positions
Government/Military OHN
- Federal (OSHA, NIOSH, VA): $78,000 - $120,000 (GS-9 to GS-12)
- State OSHA programs: $70,000 - $98,000
- Military civilian: $72,000 - $105,000
- Benefits: Federal pension, TSP, PSLF eligibility
Staffing/Travel OHN
- Weekly rates: $1,800 - $2,800/week
- Annualized: $93,600 - $145,600
- Common settings: Construction sites, plant shutdowns, seasonal projects
- Requirements: OSHA 10/30, drug testing experience, audiometry certification
Industry Sector and Pay
OHN compensation varies significantly by industry:
| Industry | Salary Range | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oil & Gas/Petrochemical | $95,000 - $130,000 | High (hazard pay) |
| Pharmaceutical/Biotech | $92,000 - $120,000 | Moderate |
| Technology (corporate wellness) | $95,000 - $130,000 | Low |
| Aerospace/Defense | $88,000 - $115,000 | Moderate |
| Automotive Manufacturing | $82,000 - $108,000 | Moderate-High |
| General Manufacturing | $75,000 - $100,000 | Moderate-High |
| Construction | $78,000 - $105,000 | High |
| Retail/Warehousing | $72,000 - $95,000 | Moderate |
| Healthcare (employee health) | $75,000 - $98,000 | Moderate |
Oil/gas and tech sectors pay the highest premiums—oil/gas for hazardous conditions and remote locations, tech for competition in the corporate wellness space.
COHN Certification and Pay Impact
The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) offers two certification levels:
COHN (Certified Occupational Health Nurse)
- Eligibility: RN + 3,000 hours OHN practice
- Pay premium: 5-10% ($4,000 - $10,000)
- Focus: Clinical occupational health practice
COHN-S (Certified Occupational Health Nurse - Specialist)
- Eligibility: BSN + 3,000 hours + safety/management focus
- Pay premium: 8-15% ($7,000 - $15,000)
- Focus: Management, safety, regulatory compliance
- Preferred by: Large corporations for program director roles
Combined Certification Impact
Per AAOHN salary survey data, certified OHNs earn approximately $8,000 - $12,000 more than non-certified peers in comparable roles. The COHN-S carries the larger premium due to its management/specialist focus.
Experience Progression
| Experience | Salary Range | Typical Role |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (1-3 years) | $68,000 - $82,000 | Staff OHN, clinic nurse |
| Mid-career (3-7 years) | $82,000 - $100,000 | Senior OHN, site nurse |
| Experienced (7-15 years) | $95,000 - $118,000 | Program coordinator, lead OHN |
| Senior (15+ years) | $105,000 - $135,000 | Director, regional manager |
PayScale data shows entry-level OHNs earn approximately $32.97/hour, rising to $39.43+ at mid-career and higher for management roles.
Geographic Variation
Highest-Paying States
| State | Average OHN Salary | Key Industries |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $60.77/hour ($126,402) | Finance, pharma, corporate |
| California | $105,000 - $125,000 | Tech, biotech, entertainment |
| Texas | $88,000 - $115,000 | Oil/gas, manufacturing |
| Washington | $92,000 - $112,000 | Tech, aerospace |
| Massachusetts | $90,000 - $110,000 | Pharma, biotech |
Remote/Site-Based Premiums
- Offshore oil platforms: +$20,000 - $40,000 (rotational schedules)
- Remote mining sites: +$15,000 - $30,000
- International assignments: +25-50% cost-of-living differential
Daily Responsibilities and Scope
OHN roles differ significantly from bedside nursing:
- Pre-employment physicals: Drug screens, functional capacity evaluations
- Injury management: Workers' comp first aid, case management
- Surveillance programs: Audiometry, spirometry, vision screening
- Regulatory compliance: OSHA recordkeeping, exposure monitoring
- Wellness programs: Health fairs, biometric screenings, EAP referrals
- Return-to-work: Modified duty coordination, fitness-for-duty assessments
- Emergency response: First responder for workplace incidents
Schedule and Lifestyle Advantages
- Hours: Predominantly Monday-Friday, 7:00/8:00 AM - 3:30/4:30 PM
- No nights, weekends, or holidays in most settings
- No on-call (rare exceptions for 24/7 manufacturing)
- Physical demand: Low (desk + standing, no patient lifting)
- Autonomy: High—often the sole healthcare provider on site
- Stress level: Moderate (regulatory deadlines, injury management)
OHN vs. Other Non-Bedside Nursing Roles
| Role | Average Salary | Schedule | Autonomy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Health Nurse | $86,000 - $101,000 | M-F days | High |
| Utilization Review/Case Management | $82,000 - $95,000 | M-F days | Moderate |
| Nursing Informatics | $95,000 - $115,000 | M-F days | High |
| Clinical Research Nurse | $82,000 - $100,000 | M-F days | Moderate |
| School Nurse | $55,000 - $75,000 | School calendar | High |
| Insurance Nurse (Claims) | $78,000 - $92,000 | M-F days | Low |
Career Advancement
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Staff OHN | $72,000 - $100,000 |
| Senior/Lead OHN | $90,000 - $115,000 |
| OHN Manager/Director (site) | $105,000 - $135,000 |
| Regional OHN Director | $120,000 - $155,000 |
| Corporate Health & Safety VP | $150,000 - $200,000+ |
| Consulting OHN | $100,000 - $150,000 (variable) |
Key Takeaways
- Occupational health nurses earn $82,000 - $101,000 nationally depending on the data source
- Corporate in-house positions (tech, oil/gas, pharma) pay the highest at $95,000 - $130,000
- COHN-S certification adds 8-15% to base compensation
- Monday-Friday daytime schedules with no on-call represent major lifestyle value
- New York and California offer the highest geographic premiums ($105,000 - $126,000)
- Oil/gas and remote-site OHN positions command $20,000 - $40,000 premiums for location
- The AAOHN salary survey shows high job satisfaction among certified occupational health nurses
Data sources: Glassdoor (2026), ZipRecruiter (2026), PayScale (2026), NurseJournal (2025), NursingEducation (2025), Bureau of Labor Statistics OES (May 2024), ABOHN (2024), AAOHN Salary Survey (2024), Research.com (2026), Indeed (2026).