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Archaeological technician vs environmental field technician

The differences between archaeological technicians and environmental field technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an archaeological technician and an environmental field technician. Additionally, an environmental field technician has an average salary of $38,450, which is higher than the $35,787 average annual salary of an archaeological technician.

The top three skills for an archaeological technician include GPS, GIS and excavations. The most important skills for an environmental field technician are OSHA, data collection, and HAZWOPER.

Archaeological technician vs environmental field technician overview

Archaeological TechnicianEnvironmental Field Technician
Yearly salary$35,787$38,450
Hourly rate$17.21$18.49
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs7,63876,665
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

What does an archaeological technician do?

The archaeological technician is someone who operates all the necessary equipment in an archeological dig. The archeological technician will provide all of the equipment and tools needed for excavation and maintain it to reduce its wear and tear. Tools commonly carried by an archeological technician are digging tools, metal detectors, GPS equipment, and other miscellaneous articles needed for excavation. The archeological technician must have a solid background in archeology or a degree of the same nature in the humanities and social sciences.

What does an environmental field technician do?

An environmental field technician, often known as an environmental science and protection technician, is an individual who conducts tests on the environment and determines the impact of a potential source of pollutants. Environmental field technicians investigate pollution sources by performing testing of groundwater samples in the field. They must ensure that proper safety procedures and equipment are utilized as well as implement on-site safety procedures to individual company specifications. Environmental field technicians must also coordinate with construction management to ensure that they are following the comprehensive environmental compliance throughout the phases of construction.

Archaeological technician vs environmental field technician salary

Archaeological technicians and environmental field technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Archaeological TechnicianEnvironmental Field Technician
Average salary$35,787$38,450
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $44,000Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityPortland, OR-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyTRC Companies-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between archaeological technician and environmental field technician education

There are a few differences between an archaeological technician and an environmental field technician in terms of educational background:

Archaeological TechnicianEnvironmental Field Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorAnthropologyEnvironmental Science
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityDuke University

Archaeological technician vs environmental field technician demographics

Here are the differences between archaeological technicians' and environmental field technicians' demographics:

Archaeological TechnicianEnvironmental Field Technician
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 51.7% Female, 48.3%Male, 85.5% Female, 14.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between archaeological technician and environmental field technician duties and responsibilities

Archaeological technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
  • Enter field data into standard archaeological forms and create archaeological site maps using a GPS unit and ArcGIS software.
  • Utilize GIS analysis to assist with locating and mitigating archaeological sites.
  • Clear atv trails and place cattle guards for atv use.
  • Work with compass, GPS, aerial photos, and topographical maps to survey a corridor for the client.
  • Perform trouble-shooting of excavations as required.
  • Show more

Environmental field technician example responsibilities.

  • Provide contractor oversight, including monitoring of technical performance of sub-contractors managing remedial cleanup projects involving hazardous waste.
  • Complete field forms, draw sketch maps, profiles and plan view field drawings.
  • Identify and correct safety shortfalls in confine space entry, explosive atmosphere, and fall protection to ensure OSHA compliance.
  • Create sketch maps of artifact distribution, and site features.
  • Read topographic maps in addition to using hand hold and tablet base GPS units.
  • Insulate and push copper thru a chase along with ac wire and drain line.
  • Show more

Archaeological technician vs environmental field technician skills

Common archaeological technician skills
  • GPS, 25%
  • GIS, 9%
  • Excavations, 7%
  • Resource Management, 6%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Data Entry, 5%
Common environmental field technician skills
  • OSHA, 11%
  • Data Collection, 9%
  • HAZWOPER, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 7%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • GPS, 5%

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