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Environmental health technician vs environmental health specialist

The differences between environmental health technicians and environmental health specialists 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 health technician, becoming an environmental health specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an environmental health specialist has an average salary of $54,789, which is higher than the $36,540 average annual salary of an environmental health technician.

The top three skills for an environmental health technician include public health, OSHA and EHS. The most important skills for an environmental health specialist are environmental health, EHS, and OSHA.

Environmental health technician vs environmental health specialist overview

Environmental Health TechnicianEnvironmental Health Specialist
Yearly salary$36,540$54,789
Hourly rate$17.57$26.34
Growth rate9%6%
Number of jobs72,29169,497
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3845
Years of experience26

Environmental health technician vs environmental health specialist salary

Environmental health technicians and environmental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Environmental Health TechnicianEnvironmental Health Specialist
Average salary$36,540$54,789
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $57,000Between $38,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-ICU Medical
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between environmental health technician and environmental health specialist education

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

Environmental Health TechnicianEnvironmental Health Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorPublic HealthPublic Health
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of California, Berkeley

Environmental health technician vs environmental health specialist demographics

Here are the differences between environmental health technicians' and environmental health specialists' demographics:

Environmental Health TechnicianEnvironmental Health Specialist
Average age3845
Gender ratioMale, 57.8% Female, 42.2%Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between environmental health technician and environmental health specialist duties and responsibilities

Environmental health technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
  • Present design and product engineers with cost effective FCC compliance solutions to certify new products to domestic and international regulatory standards.
  • Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operate sterilizers.

Environmental health specialist example responsibilities.

  • Help in managing the implementation of management systems meeting OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 standards.
  • Manage organization's injury/illness recordkeeping and handle worker's compensation claims.
  • Provide strategic leadership and work with management on identify EHS issues/recommendations/opportunities to foster continuous improvement of EHS programs and culture.
  • Maintain SDS and GHS programs.
  • Serve as an in-house expert for GHS - SDS and labeling issues.
  • Help integrate EHSMS internal audits with QMS internal audits for ISO 13485 and reviewing QSR.
  • Show more

Environmental health technician vs environmental health specialist skills

Common environmental health technician skills
  • Public Health, 14%
  • OSHA, 13%
  • EHS, 9%
  • Safety Equipment, 8%
  • Hazardous Waste, 5%
  • Hazardous Materials, 5%
Common environmental health specialist skills
  • Environmental Health, 15%
  • EHS, 8%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Hazardous Waste, 4%
  • Public Health, 3%
  • Risk Assessments, 3%

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