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The differences between environmental safety specialists and safety engineers 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 a safety engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a safety engineer has an average salary of $74,228, 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 a safety engineer are OSHA, safety standards, and safety program.
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $51,267 | $74,228 |
| Hourly rate | $24.65 | $35.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 31,038 | 16,617 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
The duties of a safety engineer depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the implementation of the safety policies and regulations in a company by conducting regular inspections and maintenance checks, coordinating with department personnel to gather data, assessing risks, and arranging precautionary measures. A safety engineer must also address issues and concerns, responding to them in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, there are instances when they have to lead safety orientations and seminars to maintain a safe and productive environment for everyone.
Environmental safety specialists and safety engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Engineer | |
| Average salary | $51,267 | $74,228 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $72,000 | Between $49,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Toledo, OH | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between an environmental safety specialist and a safety engineer in terms of educational background:
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Occupational Safety And Health | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between environmental safety specialists' and safety engineers' demographics:
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 4% |