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How much money does an REHS make?
The median annual salary for environmental scientists and specialists was $73,230 in 2020 and employment is expected to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Your salary potential depends on education, professional credentials, where you work, and who you work for. Here are some sample pay ranges of specific job titles:
| City/County/State Health Department | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level REHS/ Health Inspector | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| Senior REHS/ Health Inspector | $55,000 – $90,000 |
| Chief REHS (supervises all REHS staff) | $70,000 – $110,000 |
| Federal Health Department | |
| Entry-level Health Inspector | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| Private Sector | |
| Food Safety Auditor | $32,000 – $125,000 |
| Food Safety Manager | $35,000 – $85,000 |
| QA/QC Inspector | $25,000 – $65,000 |
| Quality Assurance Director/Food Manuf. | $60,000 – $160,000 |
| Environmental Health Inspector | $30,000 – $70,000 |
| Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator | $35,000 – $75,000 |
| Environmental Health & Safety Officer | $35,000 – $85,000 |
| Environmental Health Specialist | $40,000 – $90,000 |
| Environmental Health & Safety Manager | $50,000 – $120,000 |
What is an REHS?
REHS, or Registered Environmental Health Specialist, refers to two different things:
- A professional license or certification which is required to work in some states.
- A job title (often interchangeable with health inspector, sanitarian or sanitary inspector) of a person who conducts environmental health investigations, inspections or audits for a government agency (e.g. a public health department) or for a private company (e.g. a food manufacturing plant).
Are you thinking about becoming an REHS?
Enroll in the Rutgers EPH summer career-prep program!
EPH gives you the in-depth training and hands-on field experience you need to launch your career.
EPH also qualifies you to take the exam to earn an NJ REHS license – a nationally respected professional credential. And it does all this in only one summer.
EPH Alumni Profile: Haliun Ayush
“The entire [EPH] course gives you a lot of credibility. When I go into interviews, employers are usually very impressed that I have been trained to become an Environmental Health Specialist. It has given me an edge and leg-up. Yeah, it was challenging but well worth it.”
– Haliun Ayush, EPH 2011
