Healthy rewards for OH professionals but women still earn less

Occupational health (OH) professionals are enjoying pay increases in line with the rest of the economy but their salaries are already above the whole economy norm, according to a survey reported in the latest issue of Occupational Health Review (OHR), published by LexisNexis IRS.

The OH professionalís wage packet is often boosted by bonus payments and an extensive range of benefits. Hours can be long and although few receive overtime, holidays exceed those seen in other sectors, and on-the-job training is common.

However, there is a significant gender pay gap within the profession, with female employees earning 23% less than the equivalent male wage.

The results are available in the new issue of Occupational Health Review (OHR). The survey analyses salary and benefit information from 162 occupational health professionals, collected in June 2004; it looks at sector, gender, occupation and grade, as well as regional differences within the profession.

Key findings:
- The median full-time salary for an occupational health professional in 2004 is 32,000 (see notes to editors). The median salary for OH professionals is 27% above average annual earnings.
- Occupational physiciansí salaries far exceed those of any other OH occupation, while health and safety practitioners and OH nurses earn below the sector norm.
- Female occupational health professionals earn 23% less than their male counterparts, with the problem particularly exaggerated in the OH nursing and health and safety professions. Within the surveyís sample, the median basic salary for a male employee is 37,000, while a female can expect to earn just 30,000. This gender pay gap is higher than the economy average.
- The largest pay gap in the OH sector is for health and safety practitioners, where the median female salary of 28,000 is 24% less than the male figure of 37,000. Male OH nurses can expect salaries of 33,455, 13% above those of women (29,000).
- Practitioners in the private sector can expect to earn a median salary of 33,000, while pay is slightly lower in the public sector, at 31,200. However, for OH nurses, working in the public sector is slightly more profitable than the private sector.

- London and the South East emerges as the best paid UK region for OH practitioners.

- Most occupational health professionals enjoy an annual increase in salary. In 2004, this stood at a median of 3% across all occupations. However, the level of pay increase is often based on individual performance and is not up for negotiation with the individual concerned.

- One-third (33%) of respondents receive additional payments from schemes such as individual bonuses and company profit share. The median payment under these schemes was 2,000.

- Most OH professionals are expected to work 37 hours per week, but seven in 10 employees work in excess of this, with no extra pay.

- OH professionals are most likely to receive a final salary pension from their employer.

- The typical OH benefits package includes private medical insurance, a mobile telephone and a company car.

- Occupational health workers typically receive 27 daysí annual leave, but can boost this by working in the public sector, where holiday increases to 30 days per year.

- Employees typically receive five days training a year, most of which is paid for in full by their employer.


IRS pay and benefits editor, Sheila Attwood said:

ìIn all, occupational health professionals receive a higher salary and holiday allowance than the typical UK employee, but they often have to work more than their contracted hours.

ìEven though women dominate some areas of the profession, there is a gender pay gap that needs to be addressed. The results show how region, experience and qualifications can also have an impact on the reward package for the OH professionals. They can feel confident that, as a whole, they will be well rewarded for their work - far better than other health professionals.î

Occupational Health Review is published by LexisNexis IRS. Published six times a year and available on subscription, Occupational Heath Review examines both the illness prevention and health promotion aspects of occupational health practice and addresses the technical, legal, employment and ethical issues that occupational health professionals need to be aware of.
An annual subscription (6 issues) costs 245 UK / 263 Overseas. Please contact customer services on 44 (0)20 8662 2000.