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The differences between geographers and environmental specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a geographer has an average salary of $65,339, which is higher than the $54,482 average annual salary of an environmental specialist.
The top three skills for a geographer include spatial data, arcgis and remote sensing. The most important skills for an environmental specialist are hazardous waste, environmental compliance, and hazardous materials.
| Geographer | Environmental Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,339 | $54,482 |
| Hourly rate | $31.41 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | - | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 1,646 | 18,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A geographer studies nature, land, and the earth's features. They gather geographic data through aerial field observations, maps, and satellite images. They conduct research through surveys, interviews, and other qualitative methods. They present the results of their research findings by writing reports. They may also advise others in using GIS, remote sensing, and GPS.
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.
Geographers and environmental specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geographer | Environmental Specialist | |
| Average salary | $65,339 | $54,482 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $93,000 | Between $36,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | CoreLogic | Texas Instruments |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a geographer and an environmental specialist in terms of educational background:
| Geographer | Environmental Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Geography | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between geographers' and environmental specialists' demographics:
| Geographer | Environmental Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% | Male, 62.6% Female, 37.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 8.1% White, 63.7% 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 | 11% | 16% |