Occupational health jobs

Occupational Health jobs: frequently asked questions

(Updated Dec 2024)

Welcome to our Occupational Health jobs page, featuring all the latest positions available throughout the UK, as well as frequently asked questions below.

"current market data suggests the average annual salary is around £35,000, with typical entry level salaries around £27,000"

What is occupational health?

Occupational Health is all about keeping employees healthy and happy at their workplace.

Occupational Health teams help to keep employees safe as well as healthy while at work, managing and removing any risks that are likely to lead to ill health.

It’s an area of healthcare that’s growing, not least because it was recently discovered that 170 million working days are lost to sickness related absence every year.

Put simply, a healthier workplace is a more productive workplace.

A large part of the role of an Occupational Health worker involves carrying out assessments.

These assessments might be for new starters, or to assist a business that’s expanding or changing locations.

By proactively identifying health risks, Occupational Health teams are vital in the prevention of illness and injury.

What jobs are available in Occupational Health?

The size and structure of Occupational Health teams can vary greatly from one organisation to another.

In some companies an Occupational Health Nurse might provide part-time assistance alone; in others, large teams might manage employees across multiple offices or warehouses.

But typically, the most common Occupational Health job titles are as follows:

• Occupational Health Advisor

• Senior Occupational Health Advisor

• Occupational Health Nurse

• Occupational Health Practise Nurse

• Occupational Health Screening Nurse

• Peripatetic Occupational Health Advisor or Nurse

• Occupational Health Physician

• Occupational Health Technician

It’s worth noting that Occupational Health positions will also often be listed without the ‘Occupational Health’ label, and some organisations have their own unique way of phrasing these positions.

You’ll normally work as an independent practitioner in a large organisation, or as part of a wider team. You could work in the private or public sector, as Occupational Health professionals are employed in every industry.

What are the daily responsibilities of an Occupational Health worker?

Day-to-day responsibilities vary depending on the type of Occupational Health position you apply for, and the level of seniority.

But all Occupational Health roles will tend to include some of the following responsibilities:

• Identifying and preventing work-related health issues

• Understanding and explaining the effects of work on health

• Providing advice on first aid management

• Establishing company-wide assessments of workplace health and safety issues

• Providing health screening services

• Promoting good health practices

• Providing education and training on staying healthy and preventing illness

• Providing counselling and support

• Managing risks at work

• Providing travel-related health advice

• Carrying out clinical tasks like vaccinations and blood tests

How do you get a job in Occupational Health?

To become an Occupational Health Advisor or Nurse at any level, you’ll need to be a Registered Nurse.

You may also choose to study a programme within ‘Specialist Community Public Health Nursing’, which will give you skills specifically relevant to Occupational Health.

However, this isn’t essential. You’ll simply need to be a Registered Nurse, and you’ll normally need at least 1-2 years’ experience.

What salary can you expect as an Occupational Health worker?

Although Occupational Health workers do work in the NHS and other public organisations, the majority of employee contracts do not come under an NHS or public sector ‘banding’ system.

Therefore, salaries can vary somewhat from one location or employer to the next.

However, current market data suggests the average annual salary is around £35,000, with typical entry level salaries around £30,000.

At the top end, salaries can hit £50,000 a year and beyond for experienced Occupational Health Nurses.

Additionally, highly experienced Occupational Health staff and consultants can earn much higher salaries, or even establish their own businesses.

The differences between average salaries for different positions are subtle and complex.

The average salary for an Occupational Health Advisor, for example, is nearer to £40,000, reflecting the fact that advisors sometimes take a more senior role than nurses. But equally, some organisations use the job titles ‘Occupational Health Nurse’ and ‘Occupational Health Advisor’ interchangeably.

So it’s best to use these averages as a guide only. Your salary could vary greatly depending on the role you’re applying for.

Find your next Occupational Health job today

View our latest roles above, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create an account and register your CV here and we’ll send you the latest roles as soon as they arise.