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The differences between ecologists and fisheries biologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an ecologist and a fisheries biologist. Additionally, an ecologist has an average salary of $50,369, which is higher than the $47,758 average annual salary of a fisheries biologist.
The top three skills for an ecologist include data collection, GPS and GIS. The most important skills for a fisheries biologist are fish species, GIS, and data collection.
| Ecologist | Fisheries Biologist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,369 | $47,758 |
| Hourly rate | $24.22 | $22.96 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 7,026 | 3,648 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A fisheries biologist is a scientist who studies fishes and their respective habitats. Fisheries biologists gather data on fish and track their number in a certain body of water. They study the migration of fish and other activities. Some biologists concentrate on one fish species on a lake or river. They learn the aquatic ecosystems for the identification of population dynamics and their impact on fishes. Typically, they work in a conservation center, commercial sector, or non-profit organization or government.
Ecologists and fisheries biologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Ecologist | Fisheries Biologist | |
| Average salary | $50,369 | $47,758 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $76,000 | Between $31,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Volkert | AECOM |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between an ecologist and a fisheries biologist in terms of educational background:
| Ecologist | Fisheries Biologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of California - Davis | University of California - Davis |
Here are the differences between ecologists' and fisheries biologists' demographics:
| Ecologist | Fisheries Biologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.5% Female, 35.5% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 10.2% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |