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The differences between foresters and environmental specialists 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 specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an environmental specialist has an average salary of $54,482, 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 specialist are hazardous waste, environmental compliance, and hazardous materials.
| Forester | Environmental Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,590 | $54,482 |
| Hourly rate | $24.32 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 6,758 | 18,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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 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.
Foresters and environmental specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forester | Environmental Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,590 | $54,482 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $98,000 | Between $36,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Sierra Pacific Industries | Texas Instruments |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a forester and an environmental specialist in terms of educational background:
| Forester | Environmental Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Forestry | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between foresters' and environmental specialists' demographics:
| Forester | Environmental Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.5% Female, 17.5% | Male, 62.6% Female, 37.4% |
| 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% |