Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between environmental specialists and environmental 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 specialist, becoming an environmental engineer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an environmental engineer has an average salary of $75,718, which is higher than the $54,482 average annual salary of an environmental specialist.
The top three skills for an environmental specialist include hazardous waste, environmental compliance and hazardous materials. The most important skills for an environmental engineer are environmental compliance, project management, and OSHA.
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $54,482 | $75,718 |
| Hourly rate | $26.19 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 18,074 | 24,787 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
Environmental specialists are experts in natural science who are responsible for monitoring the environmental impact of a population, identifying environmental problems, and recommending measures to solve these issues. These scientists perform various duties and responsibilities that include overseeing field examinations and reporting hazard materials and locations, evaluating environmental health concerns, and investigating preparing reports related to environmental issues. Environmental specialists are also responsible for consulting with agencies or clients about an issue or situation and working with other companies to reduce pollution and waste.
Environmental engineers use the principles of science, biology, engineering, and chemistry to create solutions to certain environmental problems. They primarily work to improve waste disposal, public health, recycling, and to control water and air pollution. It is also their responsibility to address global issues, such as climate change, unsafe drinking water, and environmental sustainability. They typically prepare and review environmental investigation reports so that documents and permits are updated and in compliance with environmental regulations.
Environmental specialists and environmental engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Average salary | $54,482 | $75,718 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $80,000 | Between $58,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Texas Instruments | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between an environmental specialist and an environmental engineer in terms of educational background:
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between environmental specialists' and environmental engineers' demographics:
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.6% Female, 37.4% | Male, 70.5% Female, 29.5% |
| 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, 3.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.9% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 13% |