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The differences between foresters and environmental scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a forester, becoming an environmental scientist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an environmental scientist has an average salary of $60,208, which is higher than the $50,590 average annual salary of a forester.
The top three skills for a forester include natural resources, patrol and management practices. The most important skills for an environmental scientist are environmental compliance, data collection, and GIS.
| Forester | Environmental Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,590 | $60,208 |
| Hourly rate | $24.32 | $28.95 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 6,758 | 56,425 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Foresters are individuals who practice forestry, art, science, and forest management. They are typically engaged in various activities that include the management of protected areas and ecological restoration. These professionals are responsible for maintaining the forests and managing different objectives, including outdoor recreation, conservation, and raw material extraction. This role also requires you to perform other activities such as enforcing forestry laws and protecting natural resources. Other duties include conducting a survey of regional plants and animals and monitoring all human activities in the forests.
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.
Foresters and environmental scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forester | Environmental Scientist | |
| Average salary | $50,590 | $60,208 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $98,000 | Between $43,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Sierra Pacific Industries | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a forester and an environmental scientist in terms of educational background:
| Forester | Environmental Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Forestry | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between foresters' and environmental scientists' demographics:
| Forester | Environmental Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.5% Female, 17.5% | Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.6% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.3% Asian, 1.4% White, 91.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 | 8% | 16% |