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Environmental compliance technician vs compliance engineer

The differences between environmental compliance technicians and compliance engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an environmental compliance technician, becoming a compliance engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a compliance engineer has an average salary of $97,578, which is higher than the $49,618 average annual salary of an environmental compliance technician.

The top three skills for an environmental compliance technician include data entry, DOT and safety procedures. The most important skills for a compliance engineer are regulatory compliance, ISO, and project management.

Environmental compliance technician vs compliance engineer overview

Environmental Compliance TechnicianCompliance Engineer
Yearly salary$49,618$97,578
Hourly rate$23.85$46.91
Growth rate9%10%
Number of jobs36,71643,447
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age3842
Years of experience24

What does an environmental compliance technician do?

Environmental health aides are central personnel who, as supervised by heads and managers, perform hands-on experiments on samples from different locations. They prepare reports on their observations to persons concerned, emphasizing the concerns that need immediate attention. They make sure staff follows safety standards and maintains the sterility and cleanliness of facilities and equipment used. They monitor sewage and disposal areas for strict compliance with environmental standards and test samples for the presence of probable new emerging contaminants.

What does a compliance engineer do?

A compliance engineer specializes in developing systems and strategies to ensure that all products adhere to the company's safety and quality standards. Their responsibilities include coordinating with departments and staff to gather and analyze data, developing test procedures and guidelines, analyzing existing compliance procedures to identify areas needing improvement, implementing solutions, and maintaining records of all procedures and test results. Furthermore, a compliance engineer must prepare and submit compliance reports and analysis, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Environmental compliance technician vs compliance engineer salary

Environmental compliance technicians and compliance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Environmental Compliance TechnicianCompliance Engineer
Average salary$49,618$97,578
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $98,000Between $68,000 And $138,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between environmental compliance technician and compliance engineer education

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

Environmental Compliance TechnicianCompliance Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNorthwestern University

Environmental compliance technician vs compliance engineer demographics

Here are the differences between environmental compliance technicians' and compliance engineers' demographics:

Environmental Compliance TechnicianCompliance Engineer
Average age3842
Gender ratioMale, 52.5% Female, 47.5%Male, 80.4% Female, 19.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.1% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%4%

Differences between environmental compliance technician and compliance engineer duties and responsibilities

Environmental compliance technician example responsibilities.

  • Provide contractor oversight, including monitoring of technical performance of sub-contractors managing remedial cleanup projects involving hazardous waste.
  • Assist HAZWOPER technicians with logistical support for operations on project operations including research of facilities and vendors need for project completion.
  • Prepare and update SPCC and SWPP plans.
  • Provide contractor oversight, including monitoring of technical performance of sub-contractors managing remedial cleanup projects involving hazardous waste.

Compliance engineer example responsibilities.

  • Facilitate and manage CAPA investigations from creation through verification of effectiveness and closure.
  • Transition UL safety certifications to CSA and help integrate separate quality system processes into single quality system.
  • Convert non-EU RoHS compliant products to EU RoHS compliant products from board to component.
  • Conduct internal and external audits for customers, subcontractors and regulatory agencies (FAA, ISO, etc .).
  • Perform in-house EMC tests including rf emissions measurements.
  • Provide training in hazard/risk analysis methods FMEA, FTA, FMECA.
  • Show more

Environmental compliance technician vs compliance engineer skills

Common environmental compliance technician skills
  • Data Entry, 17%
  • DOT, 10%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • CFR, 8%
  • Hazardous Waste, 7%
  • EPA, 6%
Common compliance engineer skills
  • Regulatory Compliance, 11%
  • ISO, 9%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • UL, 5%
  • Product Safety, 5%
  • RF, 4%

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