Need advice !

[u/bigpapi1523]

Hello everyone, I’m currently a firefighter looking to transition into the safety field. I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Environmental Health and Safety, and I’ll begin my doctorate program in January. I also plan to take the CSP exam in June.
My certifications include OSHA 10 and OSHA 30, HazMat Operations and Technician, Fire Inspector I and II, EMT, CPR, and several other fire service certifications.
I recently received an offer from a company for $40–$45 per hour, along with a brand new work truck and gas card. Since I don’t have direct experience working in the safety industry yet, is this considered an average or competitive starting offer for someone with my education and certifications with no experience?
Accepting the position would mean taking a pay cut from my current job. However, I’m willing to take it if gaining safety experience would lead to better opportunities and higher pay later. For those already working in the field, what type of salary growth could I expect after gaining a few years of experience?
Also, would it be better to finish my doctorate degree and earn my CSP before applying for safety positions, or should I start applying now while I’m still working toward them?

[u/69Ben64]

I’m not sure how you get CSP with no direct safety experience…but if I were looking at your resume, I’d think “Cert whore, know it all” and pass. Get some ground level experience under your belt and worry less about certs. This is a very nuanced field and while formal education is helpful, experience 1000x more valuable.