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The differences between biologists and ecologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a biologist, becoming an ecologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a biologist has an average salary of $65,158, which is higher than the $50,369 average annual salary of an ecologist.
The top three skills for a biologist include data collection, GPS and renewable energy. The most important skills for an ecologist are data collection, GPS, and GIS.
| Biologist | Ecologist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,158 | $50,369 |
| Hourly rate | $31.33 | $24.22 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 5,741 | 7,026 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
A biologist is a specialized scientist focusing on studying living organisms and their relationship to the existing ecosystem. Biologists spend lots of time doing research and validating theories to support the complexity of the living matter. In some cases, biologists could also be out in the field rather than staying in a laboratory to collect biological specimens to justify their findings and create reports from their scientific investigations. Biologists also often communicate with government entities and private industries to provide recommendations on preserving the ecosystem and wildlife habitat.
An ecologist is responsible for studying the ecosystem components and the interaction between humans and nature. Ecologists analyze the organisms' roles within an environment to identify solutions in solving nature issues and environmental concerns. They conduct data analysis and field investigations to support their claims, writing methodological studies, and strategizing techniques in minimizing the impact of human activities on the stability of the ecosystem. An ecologist presents the findings on research colloquiums and conferences, highlighting conservation plans and project models for environmental sustainability.
Biologists and ecologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biologist | Ecologist | |
| Average salary | $65,158 | $50,369 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $91,000 | Between $33,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fresno, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Volkert | |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between a biologist and an ecologist in terms of educational background:
| Biologist | Ecologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | University of California - Davis |
Here are the differences between biologists' and ecologists' demographics:
| Biologist | Ecologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% | Male, 64.5% Female, 35.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |