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The differences between environmental safety specialists and safety technicians 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 technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an environmental safety specialist has an average salary of $51,267, which is higher than the $38,709 average annual salary of a safety technician.
The top three skills for an environmental safety specialist include OSHA, hazardous materials and corrective action. The most important skills for a safety technician are OSHA, patients, and customer service.
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,267 | $38,709 |
| Hourly rate | $24.65 | $18.61 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 31,038 | 38,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| 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.
A safety technician is responsible for inspecting the office equipment and machinery, as well as the safety of facilities, avoiding potential hazards in the workplace. Safety technicians also review the company's policies and procedures, ensuring that the operational processes adhere to the internal guidelines and state regulations. They recommend safety training and programs for all employees on safety compliance and stable work conditions. A safety technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on writing incident reports and suggesting practices to maintain a safe working environment.
Environmental safety specialists and safety technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,267 | $38,709 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $72,000 | Between $28,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Toledo, OH | Bethlehem, PA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between an environmental safety specialist and a safety technician in terms of educational background:
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Occupational Safety And Health | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | - |
Here are the differences between environmental safety specialists' and safety technicians' demographics:
| Environmental Safety Specialist | Safety Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |