Fisheries technician vs fishery observer

The differences between fisheries technicians and fishery observers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a fisheries technician and a fishery observer. Additionally, a fishery observer has an average salary of $36,453, which is higher than the $33,465 average annual salary of a fisheries technician.

The top three skills for a fisheries technician include fish species, data collection and data entry. The most important skills for a fishery observer are biological samples, vessel safety, and biological data.

Fisheries technician vs fishery observer overview

	Fisheries Technician	Fishery Observer
Yearly salary	$33,465	$36,453
Hourly rate	$16.09	$17.53
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	8,802	405
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 88%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Fisheries technician vs fishery observer salary

Fisheries technicians and fishery observers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Fisheries Technician	Fishery Observer
Average salary	$33,465	$36,453
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $43,000	Between $27,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	Sacramento, CA	-
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	-
Best paying company	State Bar of Michigan	-
Best paying industry	Government	-

Differences between fisheries technician and fishery observer education

There are a few differences between a fisheries technician and a fishery observer in terms of educational background:

	Fisheries Technician	Fishery Observer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 88%
Most common major	Biology	Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Fisheries technician vs fishery observer demographics

Here are the differences between fisheries technicians' and fishery observers' demographics:

	Fisheries Technician	Fishery Observer
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 70.4% Female, 29.6%	Male, 63.6% Female, 36.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 9.8% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 12.8% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between fisheries technician and fishery observer duties and responsibilities

Fisheries technician example responsibilities.

Work closely with other project leads to make sure sampling protocols for Chinook, chum and steelhead are followed.
Create maps using GIS software for end of season reports.
Create maps using GIS software for reports and project specific needs.
Utilize population dynamics in estimating assemblages of cutthroat and brook trout in high mountain streams.
Assemble hatchery apparatuses and conduct fertilization and care for lake trout eggs including gamete collection in the field.
Perform biological surveys for fisheries population estimates and result reports.

Fishery observer example responsibilities.

Assist in taking patient medical history and managing clinical patients and participate in medical team discussions regarding patient treatment plans.
Monitor the vessels level of compliance with fishing regulations in accordance with the U.S. coast guard and NMFS.
Record data is reported to NOAA through online data entry as well as hard copy.
Work aboard foreign fisheries vessels to collect data, tag sharks, and monitor fishing activities.
Submit work proposals for the development of new training materials and curricula in coordination and collaboration with NMFS.
Monitor compliance of fisheries and environmental regulations.

Fisheries technician vs fishery observer skills

Common fisheries technician skills

Fish Species, 12%
Data Collection, 11%
Data Entry, 9%
Biological Data, 5%
GPS, 5%
Ladders, 5%

Common fishery observer skills

Biological Samples, 19%
Vessel Safety, 13%
Biological Data, 7%
Fisheries Management, 7%
Data Collection, 7%
Nmfs, 7%

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Fisheries Technician
Fisheries Technician vs Fishery Observer

Updated January 8, 2025

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