One provider’s published onsite consulting rates start at $100, $175 and $225 per hour for different service levels. These are advertised consulting fees, not employee wages or a national average.
Published safety consulting prices vary with the service being sold. An hourly field consultation, a site audit with a report, and a continuing advisory engagement are different purchases. A single “average hourly rate” hides that distinction.
This article compares public prices from two US consulting businesses, checked September 10, 2026. It is a small set of advertised examples, not a representative survey, a national average or a quote for your project. Neither source gives us a reliable date for its most recent price revision.
Published examples
| Provider | Service as advertised | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Allegiant Safety Group | General onsite consulting | Starting at $100/hour+ |
| Allegiant Safety Group | Senior consulting | Starting at $175/hour+ |
| Allegiant Safety Group | Specialized/high-risk consulting | Starting at $225/hour+ |
| Allegiant Safety Group | Focused safety audit | Illustrative starting band: $2,500–$4,500 |
| Proactive Safety Solutions | Safety audits and evaluations | Approximate range: $500–$3,000+ |
| Proactive Safety Solutions | Safety training | Approximate range: $500–$2,000+ |
| Proactive Safety Solutions | Program and policy development | Approximate range: $400–$10,000+ |
Sources: Allegiant Safety Group's pricing and Proactive Safety Solutions' pricing. Both describe scope-dependent pricing. These are different offers; the audit rows do not establish a like-for-like price difference.
Compare the deliverable before comparing the fee
Check whether the quote includes preparation, time onsite, a written report, a findings meeting and follow-up. Specify the locations, shifts and documents involved, and confirm whether specialist work costs extra.
The answers can change the meaning of the headline number. A narrow site visit and an audit with a written report may both be described casually as an “inspection,” yet provide different deliverables. Write those deliverables into the comparison rather than trying to infer them from price.
Hourly, project and continuing work
For hourly work, compare the rate alongside expected hours and any minimum. For a project fee, compare the defined scope, exclusions and revision allowance. For continuing support, compare the availability and deliverables actually included in the period.
A retainer does not automatically mean unlimited support. An hourly rate does not automatically include travel or reporting time. The written proposal should settle those points before either side treats two offers as equivalent.
A simple planning calculation
Suppose a hypothetical engagement requires eight hours onsite and four hours of preparation and reporting, at an assumed $150 hourly rate. Labor would be 12 × $150 = $1,800, before travel or other agreed costs. The $150 assumption is illustrative; it is not a measured market average or either firm's quoted price for that engagement.
Review the hours and rate used to calculate $1,800 before applying the example to your project. If the scope changes to two locations, the same one-day assumption may no longer hold.
A worksheet for comparing proposals
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Work and location | Operations, sites and shifts included. |
| Deliverables | Site work, report, meetings and follow-up. |
| Fee basis | Hourly, fixed project or recurring period. |
| Included effort | Hours, visits or defined services. |
| Additional costs | Travel, expedited work or agreed extras. |
| Scope changes | How additional work is priced and approved. |
Download the proposal-comparison worksheet.
For consultants building a prospect list, service scope also matters before the proposal stage. Research whether the company's operations fit what you offer rather than treating every enforcement record as a request for an audit. Compare lead sources for safety consultants or explore the OSHA Finder consultant workflow.
Why are online hourly-rate answers so different?
A SafetyProfessionals discussion about consultancy fees includes differing self-reported rates and experience levels. Treat those replies as questions to investigate, not verified price quotes or a representative survey. Ask whether the number is the firm’s billable rate, the consultant’s pay, or a project fee divided by assumed hours. Keep those categories separate in your worksheet.