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The differences between asbestos microscopists and environmental specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an asbestos microscopist and an environmental specialist. Additionally, an asbestos microscopist has an average salary of $57,182, which is higher than the $54,482 average annual salary of an environmental specialist.
The top three skills for an asbestos microscopist include PLM, TEM and electron microscope. The most important skills for an environmental specialist are hazardous waste, environmental compliance, and hazardous materials.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Environmental Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $57,182 | $54,482 |
| Hourly rate | $27.49 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 249 | 18,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Asbestos microscopists prepare and analyze materials for asbestos fibers. These professionals complete material analyses correctly and give updates about the results. They perform data entry precisely and efficiently and maintain and calibrate microscopes to improve their accuracy. Also, Asbestos microscopists attend scheduled training seminars and departmental meetings. Other duties performed by Asbestos microscopists include maintaining professional attendance for scheduled shifts and accurately identifying challenging samples. Moreover, Asbestos microscopists establish and maintain excellent relationships with other staff members.
Environmental specialists are experts in natural science who are responsible for monitoring the environmental impact of a population, identifying environmental problems, and recommending measures to solve these issues. These scientists perform various duties and responsibilities that include overseeing field examinations and reporting hazard materials and locations, evaluating environmental health concerns, and investigating preparing reports related to environmental issues. Environmental specialists are also responsible for consulting with agencies or clients about an issue or situation and working with other companies to reduce pollution and waste.
Asbestos microscopists and environmental specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Environmental Specialist | |
| Average salary | $57,182 | $54,482 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $98,000 | Between $36,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Texas Instruments |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an asbestos microscopist and an environmental specialist in terms of educational background:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Environmental Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Biology | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between asbestos microscopists' and environmental specialists' demographics:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Environmental Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.7% Female, 33.3% | Male, 62.6% Female, 37.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 81.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 81.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |