Job profile 2026
What is a QHSE or HSE manager? Job profile, salary and hiring in 2026
The QHSE manager (quality, health, safety, environment) ensures that a site complies with regulations, management standards and its own safety and quality objectives. They lead risk prevention, audits and action plans.
In brief: HSE / QHSE manager salary, €55-85k gross per year depending on seniority. Source: Industry and Energy Pay Barometer 2026, Volta Executive, updated on 21 September 2026.
By Florian Beurtey, engineer and founder of Volta Executive. Published on 21 September 2026, updated on 21 September 2026.
QHSE manager : the role in figures
| HSE / QHSE manager salary | €55-85k gross per year depending on seniority |
|---|---|
| QHSE engineer salary | €32-70k gross per year depending on seniority |
| Pay trend | +3.5% in 2026 across the HSE / QHSE family |
| Shortage level | High: heavier regulation, role in strong demand |
| Variable pay | Rare: safety bonus of €1-3k per year, profit-sharing depending on the sector |
| Common qualifications | BUT HSE, professional bachelor's degree, master's or engineering degree |
Duties of the QHSE manager
- Assess risks and keep the single document on occupational risk assessment up to date
- Lead prevention and safety: accident analyses, action plans, team awareness
- Monitor the site's environmental compliance: classified installations (ICPE), discharges, waste
- Prepare and conduct internal audits and certification audits
- Manage quality: non-conformities, customer complaints, corrective actions
- Track safety indicators, in particular accident frequency and severity rates
Skills required
- Knowledge of the Labour Code and the Environmental Code
- Command of management standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001)
- Root cause analysis methods: cause tree, 5 whys, 8D
- Knowledge of industrial risks: explosive atmospheres (ATEX), chemicals, work at height
- Authority without line management: getting production teams to apply rules
Standards and regulation
| ISO 9001 | Quality management |
|---|---|
| ISO 14001 | Environmental management |
| ISO 45001 | Occupational health and safety management |
| MASE | Safety standard for companies working on industrial sites |
| ICPE | Regime for installations classified for the protection of the environment |
Training to become a QHSE manager
- BUT Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Bac+3
- Professional bachelor's degree in quality or safety professions, Bac+3
- Master's or engineering degree with a specialisation in risk, safety and environment, Bac+5
Career paths
- HSE officer or QHSE technician
- QHSE engineer
- Site HSE / QHSE manager
- Group HSE / QSE director
Salary of the QHSE manager in 2026
National basis, fixed annual gross, excluding variable pay and role allowances. The Paris and region columns are derived from the barometer's reference framework (Paris about 12% higher, regions about 5% lower, except for roles in extreme shortage, which are aligned with the national figure).
HSE officer
| Seniority | National | Paris | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 years | 30–35 k€ | 34–39 k€ | 29–33 k€ |
| 2 to 5 years | 34–40 k€ | 38–45 k€ | 32–38 k€ |
| 5 to 10 years | 40–46 k€ | 45–52 k€ | 38–44 k€ |
| 10+ years | 46–52 k€ | 52–58 k€ | 44–49 k€ |
QHSE engineer
| Seniority | National | Paris | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 years | 32–40 k€ | 36–45 k€ | 30–38 k€ |
| 2 to 5 years | 40–48 k€ | 45–54 k€ | 38–46 k€ |
| 5 to 10 years | 48–60 k€ | 54–67 k€ | 46–57 k€ |
| 10+ years | 60–70 k€ | 67–78 k€ | 57–67 k€ |
HSE / QHSE manager
| Seniority | National | Paris | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 years | 55–60 k€ | 62–67 k€ | 52–57 k€ |
| 2 to 5 years | 60–68 k€ | 67–76 k€ | 57–65 k€ |
| 5 to 10 years | 68–75 k€ | 76–84 k€ | 65–71 k€ |
| 10+ years | 75–85 k€ | 84–95 k€ | 71–81 k€ |
Group HSE / QSE director
| Seniority | National | Paris | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 years | 70–85 k€ | 78–95 k€ | 67–81 k€ |
| 2 to 5 years | 85–105 k€ | 95–118 k€ | 81–100 k€ |
| 5 to 10 years | 105–125 k€ | 118–140 k€ | 100–119 k€ |
| 10+ years | > 125 k€ | > 140 k€ | > 119 k€ |
Variable pay is rare for these profiles: a safety bonus of €1-3k per year and profit-sharing depending on the sector.
Source: Industry and Energy Pay Barometer 2026, Volta Executive. Figures in €k gross per year.
The full barometer, role by role
This profile reproduces part of the grids of Volta Executive's 2026 Industry and Energy Pay Barometer. The barometer covers every role in industry and energy, with lead times and shortage levels.
QHSE manager : the market in 2026
Shortage level for the industrial HSE / QHSE manager, in short supply
Change in pay for the HSE / QHSE family in 2026
Range for the industrial HSE / QHSE manager according to the barometer
Regulation has become heavier and industrial sites must demonstrate compliance continuously: QHSE managers are in strong demand. The barometer ranks the role as high shortage. The family also includes tighter energy niches, such as radiation protection, where lead times reach 5 to 8 months.
Who is hiring
Industrial sites of all sizes, in particular process industries, chemicals, food processing and energy installations: energy recovery, biomass, cogeneration, nuclear for radiation protection.
Hiring a QHSE manager?
A poorly filled QHSE role exposes the site to the risk of an accident and to non-compliance. Volta Executive hires through direct search experienced profiles who do not answer job adverts. Let's talk about your need before you publish.
Talk about my hireAre you a QHSE manager?
Send your CV without booking a meeting. If your profile matches a current or upcoming assignment, we will contact you.
See the openings and send my CVFrequently asked questions about the role of the QHSE manager
What is a QHSE manager's salary in 2026?
According to the Volta Executive 2026 pay barometer, on a national basis and fixed annual gross: an HSE / QHSE manager earns €55-60k at 0 to 2 years and €75-85k after ten years. A QHSE engineer earns €32-40k at the start of their career and €60-70k after ten years.
What is the difference between a QHSE engineer and a QHSE manager?
The QHSE engineer implements prevention and quality plans, often within a defined scope. The QHSE manager heads the function on a site, carries responsibility for it and reports to management. The barometer distinguishes them with two salary grids.
What does QHSE stand for?
QHSE stands for quality, health, safety, environment. HSE denotes the same function without quality, and QSE denotes it with quality and without health.
Which standards should a QHSE manager know?
The ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) management standards, the MASE standard for companies working on industrial sites, and the classified installations regime (ICPE).
What training do you need to become a QHSE manager?
A BUT in Health, Safety and Environment, a professional bachelor's degree in quality or safety, or a master's or engineering degree specialising in risk, safety and environment. The manager role is generally reached after several years in the field.
Are salaries higher in Paris?
The site's grids are written on a national basis. For an equivalent role, Paris is about 12% higher and the other regions about 5% lower, on fixed pay.
What career paths are open to a QHSE manager?
The role leads to the HSE or QSE directorship of a group. The barometer places the group HSE / QSE director at €70-85k at the start, and above €125k after ten years.
Other job profiles
- Automation specialist : salary and hiring
- Methods engineer : salary and hiring
- Maintenance manager : salary and hiring
- Site director : salary and hiring
- EfW shift leader : salary and hiring
- Energy manager : salary and hiring
- Process engineer : salary and hiring
- Operations manager : salary and hiring
- Operations director : salary and hiring
- Technical director : salary and hiring
- Mechanical engineer : salary and hiring
- Nuclear engineer : salary and hiring
- Project manager (chargé d'affaires) : salary and hiring
- Production manager : salary and hiring
- Quality manager : salary and hiring
Learn more
- Industry and energy salary barometer 2026
- Industrial salaries 2026: grids by role and region
- List of the 52 roles in short supply in 2026
- Hire a site director
Sources and method
- Industry and Energy Pay Barometer 2026, Volta Executive
- Pay barometer, HSE / QHSE family (change +3.5% in 2026)
The grids are on a national basis, fixed annual gross. Paris and region values are calculated with the barometer's geographic reference framework.