Environmental field technician vs laboratory analyst

The differences between environmental field technicians and laboratory analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an environmental field technician and a laboratory analyst. Additionally, a laboratory analyst has an average salary of $44,024, which is higher than the $38,450 average annual salary of an environmental field technician.

The top three skills for an environmental field technician include OSHA, data collection and HAZWOPER. The most important skills for a laboratory analyst are test methods, lab equipment, and lims.

Environmental field technician vs laboratory analyst overview

	Environmental Field Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Yearly salary	$38,450	$44,024
Hourly rate	$18.49	$21.17
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	76,665	44,074
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	2

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.

What does a laboratory analyst do?

A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.

Environmental field technician vs laboratory analyst salary

Environmental field technicians and laboratory analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Environmental Field Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average salary	$38,450	$44,024
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $48,000	Between $31,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	AbbVie
Best paying industry	-	Pharmaceutical

Differences between environmental field technician and laboratory analyst education

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

	Environmental Field Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Environmental Science	Biology
Most common college	Duke University	Stanford University

Environmental field technician vs laboratory analyst demographics

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

	Environmental Field Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 85.5% Female, 14.5%	Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between environmental field technician and laboratory analyst duties and responsibilities

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.

Laboratory analyst example responsibilities.

Use sophisticate laboratory instrumentation (HPLC, FTIR, UV, GC) and computer systems to collect and record data.
Analyze organic compounds using gravimetric, titration, distillation and spectrophotometry methods.
Prepare for and represent the laboratory during FDA, customer, and ISO audits.
Complete preparation of organic samples for GC, HPLC, IR and GCMS analysis.
Prepare solid and aqueous samples for analysis on diagnostic instruments including GC, GCMS and IC.
Utilize internal LIMS computer database for data entry and communication.

Environmental field technician vs laboratory analyst skills

Common environmental field technician skills

OSHA, 11%
Data Collection, 9%
HAZWOPER, 9%
Safety Procedures, 7%
Hand Tools, 6%
GPS, 5%

Common laboratory analyst skills

Test Methods, 8%
Lab Equipment, 7%
Lims, 5%
Laboratory Procedures, 5%
Sample Preparation, 5%
Analytical Methods, 4%

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Environmental Field Technician
Environmental Field Technician vs Laboratory Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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