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Environmental safety specialist vs environmental consultant

The differences between environmental safety specialists and environmental consultants 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 safety specialist, becoming an environmental consultant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an environmental consultant has an average salary of $74,913, which is higher than the $51,267 average annual salary of an environmental safety specialist.

The top three skills for an environmental safety specialist include OSHA, hazardous materials and corrective action. The most important skills for an environmental consultant are environmental compliance, OSHA, and technical reports.

Environmental safety specialist vs environmental consultant overview

Environmental Safety SpecialistEnvironmental Consultant
Yearly salary$51,267$74,913
Hourly rate$24.65$36.02
Growth rate6%4%
Number of jobs31,03821,723
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4543
Years of experience612

What does an environmental safety specialist do?

An environmental safety specialist is responsible for promoting environmental sustainability by ensuring that the production and manufacturing operations of an organization would not harm the environment's condition in any way. Environmental safety specialists monitor the safety and efficiency of the company's processes to minimize risks and hazards that may occur in the workplace. They also plan and facilitate safety training and programs for all employees to reiterate safety guidelines and regulations while within the premises.

What does an environmental consultant do?

An Environmental Consultant provides assessment and advisory services for their clients on matters regarding the management of environmental issues. They are generally hired by consultancy firms, which are hired by the public sector or commercial organizations.

Environmental safety specialist vs environmental consultant salary

Environmental safety specialists and environmental consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Environmental Safety SpecialistEnvironmental Consultant
Average salary$51,267$74,913
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $72,000Between $56,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CityToledo, OHSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyEli Lilly and CompanyConocoPhillips
Best paying industryEnergyTechnology

Differences between environmental safety specialist and environmental consultant education

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

Environmental Safety SpecialistEnvironmental Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorOccupational Safety And HealthEnvironmental Science
Most common collegeDuke UniversityStanford University

Environmental safety specialist vs environmental consultant demographics

Here are the differences between environmental safety specialists' and environmental consultants' demographics:

Environmental Safety SpecialistEnvironmental Consultant
Average age4543
Gender ratioMale, 73.5% Female, 26.5%Male, 69.0% Female, 31.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 12.8% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%13%

Differences between environmental safety specialist and environmental consultant duties and responsibilities

Environmental safety specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage all asbestos relate incidents/clean-ups.
  • Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and environmental regulations.
  • Monitor OSHA mandate requirements to keep training guidelines current.
  • Review design specs for numerous complex remodeling, demolition and construction projects addressing many utility system impacts.
  • Obtain & hold certification standard within the company, and NFPA 10 and MSHA.
  • Conduct site specific orientation, mobile equipment, confine space and LOTO training.
  • Show more

Environmental consultant example responsibilities.

  • Develop and implement SPCC regulations, and manage and coordinate routine policy audits for oil and gas industry operators.
  • Manage a project for the U.S.EPA Superfund program that evaluate flexible methods to distribute Superfund monies to state and tribal governments.
  • Manage environmental restoration waste site characterization activities in support of CERCLA cleanup.
  • Audit EHS programs for deficiencies, prepare reports with recommend corrective actions.
  • Prepare SPCC plans and other documentation associate with storage of large volumes of fuel oil.
  • Collect GPS points in the field to produce GIS maps of trees inventory and upload marks to database.
  • Show more

Environmental safety specialist vs environmental consultant skills

Common environmental safety specialist skills
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Hazardous Materials, 5%
  • Corrective Action, 5%
  • EPA, 4%
  • Regulatory Agencies, 4%
  • Safety Program, 3%
Common environmental consultant skills
  • Environmental Compliance, 9%
  • OSHA, 6%
  • Technical Reports, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • EPA, 4%
  • Due Diligence, 4%

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