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The differences between environmental specialists and environmental geologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an environmental specialist and an environmental geologist. Additionally, an environmental geologist has an average salary of $64,927, 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 geologist are surface water, OSHA, and remediation projects.
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,482 | $64,927 |
| Hourly rate | $26.19 | $31.21 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 18,074 | 16,395 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 84% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
An Environmental Geologist helps prevent the contamination of soil and groundwater. They study the physical characteristics and composition of the Earth and its natural resources.
Environmental specialists and environmental geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Geologist | |
| Average salary | $54,482 | $64,927 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $80,000 | Between $50,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Texas Instruments | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an environmental specialist and an environmental geologist in terms of educational background:
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 84% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Geology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between environmental specialists' and environmental geologists' demographics:
| Environmental Specialist | Environmental Geologist | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.6% Female, 37.4% | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 81.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |