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The differences between environmental geologists and geologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an environmental geologist, becoming a geologist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a geologist has an average salary of $111,878, which is higher than the $64,927 average annual salary of an environmental geologist.
The top three skills for an environmental geologist include surface water, OSHA and remediation projects. The most important skills for a geologist are oversight, OSHA, and data collection.
| Environmental Geologist | Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $64,927 | $111,878 |
| Hourly rate | $31.21 | $53.79 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 16,395 | 869 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
An Environmental Geologist helps prevent the contamination of soil and groundwater. They study the physical characteristics and composition of the Earth and its natural resources.
A Geologist studies the composition, structure, and history of the earth's crust. They may work for private industries, the federal government, colleges and universities, or museums.
Environmental geologists and geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Environmental Geologist | Geologist | |
| Average salary | $64,927 | $111,878 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $84,000 | Between $63,000 And $196,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | El Paso, TX |
| Highest paying state | - | Texas |
| Best paying company | - | Devon Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between an environmental geologist and a geologist in terms of educational background:
| Environmental Geologist | Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Geology | Geology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between environmental geologists' and geologists' demographics:
| Environmental Geologist | Geologist | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% |
| 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, 1.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 81.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 4% |