Below is a detailed breakdown of salaries for Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) professionals in Nigeria for 2025, based on available data from various sources. The information covers different HSE roles, including HSE Professionals, HSE Managers, HSE Engineers, and HSE Officers, with breakdowns by experience, education, sector, and other factors. All salaries are in Nigerian Naira (NGN) and represent gross monthly or annual figures unless otherwise stated, including benefits like housing and transport where applicable.
1. Overview of HSE Roles in Nigeria
HSE professionals in Nigeria work in sectors such as oil and gas, construction, mining, manufacturing, and renewable energy, ensuring workplace safety, environmental compliance, and risk management. Common roles include:
- HSE Professional: General safety and environmental management roles.
- HSE Manager: Senior roles overseeing safety programs and compliance.
- HSE Engineer: Technical roles focusing on safety engineering in industries like oil and gas.
- HSE Officer/Coordinator/Advisor: Entry- to mid-level roles implementing safety protocols.
Salaries vary significantly based on experience, education, location, industry, and whether the employer is in the private or public sector.
2. Salary Breakdown by Role
a. HSE Professional
- Annual Salary Range: ₦1,751,700 – ₦5,305,100 (average: ₦3,444,200/year or ~₦287,000/month).
- Median Salary: ₦3,373,200/year (~₦281,100/month).
- 50% of HSE Professionals earn less than this, and 50% earn more.
- Percentiles:
- 25th Percentile: ₦2,314,800/year (~₦192,900/month) – 25% earn less.
- 75th Percentile: ~₦3,373,200/year – 75% earn less.
- Monthly Salary Range: ₦146,000 – ₦442,000.
- Minimum hourly wage: ₦840 (based on a standard 40-hour workweek).
- By Experience:
- Less than 2 years: Not explicitly detailed, but entry-level salaries start at ~₦146,000/month.
- 2–5 years: ~₦200,000–₦250,000/month (estimated based on general trends).
- 5–10 years: ~₦300,000–₦350,000/month.
- 10+ years: Up to ₦442,000/month.
- By Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree: ~₦264,000/month (average).
- Master’s Degree: ~₦4,309,300/year (~₦359,108/month), a 39% increase over a Bachelor’s.
b. HSE Manager
- Annual Salary Range: ₦2,281,800 – ₦7,882,800 (average: ₦4,956,800/year or ~₦413,067/month).
- Median Salary: ₦5,351,400/year (~₦445,950/month).
- Percentiles:
- 25th Percentile: ₦3,432,600/year (~₦286,050/month) – 25% earn less.
- 75th Percentile: ₦7,150,200/year (~₦595,850/month) – 75% earn less.
- Monthly Salary Range: ₦190,000 – ₦657,000.
- Minimum hourly wage: ₦1,100–₦1,160 (based on standard workweek).
- By Experience:
- Less than 2 years: ~₦216,000–₦239,000/month.
- 2–5 years: ~₦288,000–₦308,000/month (29–34% more than <2 years).
- 5–10 years: ~₦425,000–₦426,000/month (38–48% more than 2–5 years).
- 10–15 years: ~₦519,000–₦526,000/month (22–24% more than 5–10 years).
- By Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree: ~₦264,000/month (baseline for similar roles).
- Master’s Degree: ~₦7,105,200/year (~₦592,100/month), significantly higher due to seniority.
- By Location (Lagos):
- Annual Range: ₦2,374,400 – ₦8,218,100 (average: ₦5,172,800/year or ~₦431,067/month).
- Median: ₦5,591,900/year (~₦466,158/month).
- Pay Raise: ~9% annually (13% every 18 months, higher than the national average of 8% every 19 months).
c. HSE Engineer
- Monthly Salary Range: ₦165,000 – ₦485,000 (average: ₦317,000/month).
- Median Salary: ₦304,000/month.
- 50% earn less, 50% earn more.
- Percentiles:
- 25th Percentile: ₦211,000/month – 25% earn less.
- 75th Percentile: ₦379,000/month – 75% earn less.
- By Experience:
- 5–10 years: ~₦326,000/month (estimated).
- 10–15 years: ₦395,000/month (21% more than 5–10 years).
- 15–20 years: ₦432,000/month (9% more than 10–15 years).
- 20+ years: ₦455,000/month (5% more than 15–20 years).
- By Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree: ₦264,000/month.
- Master’s Degree: ₦367,000/month (39% more than Bachelor’s).
d. HSE Officer/Coordinator/Advisor
- Monthly Salary Range: ₦50,000 – ₦1,000,000 (highly variable based on employer).
- Examples by Company:
- Nigerian Foundries Limited: ₦150,000–₦200,000/month (experienced level).
- Marine Oil Service: ₦1,000,000/month.
- NLNG: ₦400,000–₦500,000/month.
- Dangote Industries: ₦150,000/month.
- Freelancer: ₦300,000/month.
- Prudent Energy: ₦633,000/month (HSE Coordinator).
- Marine Platforms: ₦900,000/month (HSE Advisor).
- By Experience:
- Entry-level (2–5 years): ₦150,000–₦200,000/month (e.g., Lagos-based role).
- Mid-level (5+ years): ₦300,000–₦500,000/month.
- Senior-level: Up to ₦1,000,000/month in high-paying companies like Subsea 7.
3. Factors Affecting HSE Salaries
- Experience: The most significant factor. Salaries increase by 29–48% with each experience tier (e.g., 2–5 years to 5–10 years).
- Education:
- Certificate/Diploma: 17% more than high school.
- Bachelor’s Degree: 24% more than certificate/diploma.
- Master’s Degree: 29% more than Bachelor’s.
- Ph.D.: 23% more than Master’s.
- Location:
- Lagos offers higher salaries (e.g., HSE Manager average: ₦5,172,800/year vs. national ₦4,956,800/year).
- Other regions (e.g., Nasarawa, Abuja) may have lower ranges but offer competitive benefits.
- Sector:
- Private Sector: Pays 6% more on average than the public sector across all career fields.
- High-paying industries: Oil and gas (e.g., Shell, NLNG), mining (e.g., Avatar New Energy), renewable energy (e.g., GVE Projects).
- Gender and Skills: Salaries vary based on skills (e.g., risk management, compliance expertise) and, in some cases, gender, though specific data on gender impact is limited.
- Bonuses and Benefits:
- Common benefits include housing, transport, hazard allowances, and professional training.
- Revenue-generating roles (e.g., in oil and gas) often receive higher bonuses.
4. Additional Insights
- Salary Increases:
- Average annual increase: 5% nationally.
- HSE Managers in Lagos: ~9% annually (13% every 18 months).
- Overtime:
- Hourly-paid HSE roles (e.g., Officers) are eligible for overtime, unlike salaried roles (e.g., Managers).
- Return on Investment for Education:
- A Master’s degree (costing ₦1,690,000–₦5,080,000) can increase earnings by 10–39% and may be recouped in a few years through higher salaries.
- Job Market:
- High demand in oil and gas, mining, and renewable energy sectors.
- Roles like HSE Officer are accessible with HND/BSc and 2–5 years of experience.
5. Comparison with Other Professions
- Surgeons: ₦1,260,000/month (highest-paid in healthcare, significantly above HSE roles).
- Nigerian Customs Service (paramilitary):
- SSCE Holders: ₦30,000–₦38,000/month.
- HND/BSc Graduates: ₦75,000–₦95,000/month.
- Average Nigerian Salary: ₦339,000/month (~₦4,060,000/year), close to HSE Professional/Manager averages.
6. Notes and Limitations
- Gross vs. Net Salaries: Figures are gross (before taxes). Net salaries vary due to differing tax rates across sectors and locations.
- Data Sources: Compiled from salary surveys, job postings, and platforms like SalaryExplorer, WorldSalaries, Glassdoor, and MySalaryScale. Some data (e.g., Glassdoor) is based on limited submissions and may not be comprehensive.
- Variability: Salaries depend heavily on the employer. For example, NLNG pays HSE Officers ₦400,000–₦500,000/month, while Dangote pays ₦150,000/month.
- Currency Conversion: As of October 2022, ₦339,000 ≈ USD 774.75. Current exchange rates may differ, affecting USD equivalents.
7. Recommendations
- Career Advancement: Pursue certifications (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH) and a Master’s degree for higher earnings, especially in managerial roles.
- Negotiation: Use platforms like Jobzilla Nigeria to benchmark salaries and negotiate confidently.
- Job Search: Explore opportunities in Lagos or oil and gas companies for higher pay. Check job boards like HSENations for current openings.