North Carolina Boosts Pay for Safety Inspectors Under New Labor Initiative
A recent move by the N.C. Department of Labor aims to strengthen jobsite protections through investment in the professionals who enforce workplace safety laws.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jun 02, 2025
The North Carolina Department of Labor has raised starting salaries for workplace safety inspectors as part of a broader initiative to strengthen jobsite protections across the state, Labor Commissioner Luke Farley announced Monday.
The department increased the starting pay for fully qualified compliance safety officers to $61,000 annually, marking a raise of more than 5% for these front-line safety professionals.
Compliance safety officers serve within the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division of the Labor Department. They are responsible for conducting inspections, investigating workplace complaints, and ensuring compliance with both state and federal occupational safety regulations.
“As Labor Commissioner, my top priority is keeping the working men and women of North Carolina safe and healthy on the job,” Farley said in a statement. “By raising the starting pay for our compliance officers, we’re investing in the people who keep North Carolina’s workers safe. This is a down payment on safer job sites across our state.”
The salary increase is part of Commissioner Farley’s broader plan to recruit and retain qualified professionals, support enforcement capacity, and improve overall workplace safety statewide.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.