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The differences between environmental scientists and ecologists 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 scientist, becoming an ecologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an environmental scientist has an average salary of $60,208, which is higher than the $50,369 average annual salary of an ecologist.
The top three skills for an environmental scientist include environmental compliance, data collection and GIS. The most important skills for an ecologist are data collection, GPS, and GIS.
| Environmental Scientist | Ecologist | |
| Yearly salary | $60,208 | $50,369 |
| Hourly rate | $28.95 | $24.22 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 56,425 | 7,026 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Environmental scientists are responsible for analyzing environmental issues and creating their solutions. They protect the environment together with human health by using their understanding of natural science. It is their job to advise policy-makers, work with industry professionals to reduce waste, and clean up polluted areas. Also, they assess environmental risks and research to guide businesses, government administrators, as well as the general public on probable environmental threats and health risks. Additionally, they ensure that these entities follow the environmental regulations and policies to help minimize their environmental impact on the ecosystem.
An ecologist is responsible for studying the ecosystem components and the interaction between humans and nature. Ecologists analyze the organisms' roles within an environment to identify solutions in solving nature issues and environmental concerns. They conduct data analysis and field investigations to support their claims, writing methodological studies, and strategizing techniques in minimizing the impact of human activities on the stability of the ecosystem. An ecologist presents the findings on research colloquiums and conferences, highlighting conservation plans and project models for environmental sustainability.
Environmental scientists and ecologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Environmental Scientist | Ecologist | |
| Average salary | $60,208 | $50,369 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $84,000 | Between $33,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Fresno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Volkert |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an environmental scientist and an ecologist in terms of educational background:
| Environmental Scientist | Ecologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of California - Davis |
Here are the differences between environmental scientists' and ecologists' demographics:
| Environmental Scientist | Ecologist | |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3% | Male, 64.5% Female, 35.5% |
| 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, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 10% |