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Occupational Health Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Medix

Occupational Health Nurse

Council Bluffs, IA · On-site

$35 - $40/hr

Job Summary Our client is seeking an Occupational Health Nurse to join their team. The primary responsibilities include maintaining Occupational Health Services procedures, providing nursing care ...

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All JobsOccupational Health JobsOccupational Health Jobs in Iowa

Occupational Health information

See Iowa salary details

$24.4K

$43.6K

$90.6K

How much do occupational health jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for occupational health in Iowa is $43,649.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35,700.00 and $44,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is occupational health?

Occupational health is a field of healthcare focused on the physical, mental, and social well-being of people in the workplace. It involves identifying and managing workplace hazards, preventing occupational injuries and diseases, and promoting healthy work environments. Occupational health professionals work to ensure that employers comply with safety regulations, provide health education, and support employees' health needs. This field plays a crucial role in maintaining productivity and reducing work-related illnesses and accidents.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an occupational health specialist?

To thrive as an Occupational Health Specialist, you need a background in nursing, public health, or a related field, often supported by certifications like COHN or COHN-S. Familiarity with workplace safety regulations, health risk assessment tools, and incident reporting systems is typically required. Strong interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication help you engage employees and collaborate with management. These skills ensure the promotion of a safe, healthy work environment and compliance with occupational health standards.

What are common challenges faced by professionals working in occupational health, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Occupational Health often encounter challenges such as managing diverse workplace hazards, staying current with evolving regulations, and effectively communicating health risks to both employees and management. Navigating multiple priorities—like conducting risk assessments while providing health education—can also be demanding. Addressing these challenges involves ongoing professional development, fostering strong relationships with all departments, and implementing clear communication strategies to promote a safe and healthy work environment.

What is the difference between Occupational Health vs Industrial Hygienist?

AspectOccupational HealthIndustrial Hygienist
Required CredentialsCertifications like CHO, OHST, or CIH often preferredTypically requires CIH certification
Work EnvironmentWorkplaces, clinics, or corporate health programsIndustrial settings, laboratories, manufacturing plants
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by healthcare providers, corporations, government agenciesEmployed by industries, consulting firms, government agencies
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Occupational Health professionals focus on preventing work-related illnesses, managing employee health programs, and ensuring workplace safety. Industrial Hygienists specialize in identifying and controlling environmental hazards like chemical, physical, and biological risks in industrial settings. While both roles aim to improve workplace safety, Occupational Health has a broader scope including health promotion, whereas Industrial Hygienists concentrate on hazard assessment and exposure control.

What do you do in occupational health?

Occupational health professionals assess and promote the health and safety of employees in the workplace. They conduct health screenings, manage workplace injuries, develop safety protocols, and ensure compliance with health regulations, often using tools like health records and safety training. Certification in occupational health or related fields is typically required.

What jobs fall under occupational health?

Jobs in occupational health include roles such as occupational health nurses, industrial hygienists, safety officers, and occupational health physicians. These professionals work to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, often requiring certifications like Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Occupational Health and Safety Technician. They typically work in healthcare settings, manufacturing plants, or corporate environments to promote workplace safety and health programs.

What are the most commonly searched types of Occupational Health jobs in Iowa?

The most popular types of Occupational Health jobs in Iowa are:

What are popular job titles related to Occupational Health jobs in Iowa?

For Occupational Health jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Occupational Health jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Occupational Health jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Occupational Health jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Occupational Health job openings:

Occupational Health jobs near you
Infographic showing various Occupational Health job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,649 per year, or $21 per hour.

Safety & Occupational Health Specialist

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

Iowa City, IA • On-site

$89K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Perform surveys and inspections of workplaces to identify safety and health hazards.

  • Coordinate with other health and safety specialists and review design plans for hazard control.

  • Administer occupational, life, and fire safety programs, and provide education and training on safety and health topics.

Job description

The Safety & Occupational Health Specialist performs a variety of functions related to the identification, evaluation, and control of safety and health hazards and to the promotion of healthful and safe working conditions. The work includes surveys; coordination with other health and safety specialists; administration of occupational, life, and fire safety programs; review of design plans for hazard control, investigation of causative agents for occupational hazards; and education/training.Qualifications:To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/08/2026.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
Individual Occupational Requirement - Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
  • Managing safety or occupational health program elements.
  • Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management.
  • Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements.
  • Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards.
  • Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses.
  • Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards.
  • Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards.
  • Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards.
  • Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects.
  • Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-12: You must qualify based on your experience as described below:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying specialized experience includes what is stated above, as well as: recognizing potential hazards associated with a variety of operations and processes; conducting surveys/inspections of working conditions to determine nature of hazardous exposures; analyzing findings to recommend or develop corrective/control measures; auditing for compliance with established guidelines; developing policies to improve safety conditions; and preparing training concerning occupational, life, and/or fire safety.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Investigations and surveys involve moderate physical exertion, including carrying equipment, climbing, standing, walking, and bending, as well as use of personal protective devices and occasional work in confined spaces.
Work Environment: The work involves exposures to all the hazards and discomforts including chemicals, noise, dust, aerosols, fumes, and operating equipment. Protective clothing or equipment, including respiratory protection, may be necessary. Much of the work is performed in an office setting, although exposure to industrial hazards is expected multiple times weekly during walk-through surveys conducted individually or conducted as part of a larger study. Work is self-directed at this level.Education:There is no educational substitution at this grade level.
Employment Type: OTHER

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