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Health specialist vs environmental health specialist

The differences between health specialists and environmental health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a health specialist and an environmental health specialist. Additionally, an environmental health specialist has an average salary of $54,789, which is higher than the $47,740 average annual salary of a health specialist.

The top three skills for a health specialist include patients, health education and public health. The most important skills for an environmental health specialist are environmental health, EHS, and OSHA.

Health specialist vs environmental health specialist overview

Health SpecialistEnvironmental Health Specialist
Yearly salary$47,740$54,789
Hourly rate$22.95$26.34
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs72,46369,497
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a health specialist do?

A health specialist is primarily responsible for the health and welfare care of patients in a community or medical facility. They are also responsible for providing consultations, conducting assessments and examinations, providing prescriptions, and recommending care methods. A health specialist may also diagnose and treat ailments and injuries, coordinate with other health experts, and discuss conditions with patients and their families. Furthermore, a health specialist may participate in public discussions to raise awareness of health issues and lifestyles.

What does an environmental health specialist do?

An Environmental Health Specialist is responsible for determining the existence of possible health hazards and taking measures to prevent or corect them. They monitor health and safety conditions in resedential, industrial, commercial, and recreational settings.

Health specialist vs environmental health specialist salary

Health specialists and environmental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health SpecialistEnvironmental Health Specialist
Average salary$47,740$54,789
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $72,000Between $38,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyCity of SeattleICU Medical
Best paying industryGovernmentManufacturing

Differences between health specialist and environmental health specialist education

There are a few differences between a health specialist and an environmental health specialist in terms of educational background:

Health SpecialistEnvironmental Health Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorPsychologyPublic Health
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of California, Berkeley

Health specialist vs environmental health specialist demographics

Here are the differences between health specialists' and environmental health specialists' demographics:

Health SpecialistEnvironmental Health Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 33.3% Female, 66.7%Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between health specialist and environmental health specialist duties and responsibilities

Health specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and maintain medical and legal case files in compliance with HIPAA.
  • Hire, manage payroll and provide oversight for research and administrative assistants.
  • Provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation counseling and case management services to disable veterans and other eligible individuals.
  • Coordinate and facilitate workgroup and committee meetings.
  • Assist in running a life skills group for young adults with autism.
  • Work one-on-one with an individual who have autism and are visually impair.
  • Show more

Environmental health specialist example responsibilities.

  • Help in managing the implementation of management systems meeting OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 standards.
  • Manage organization's injury/illness recordkeeping and handle worker's compensation claims.
  • Provide strategic leadership and work with management on identify EHS issues/recommendations/opportunities to foster continuous improvement of EHS programs and culture.
  • Maintain SDS and GHS programs.
  • Serve as an in-house expert for GHS - SDS and labeling issues.
  • Help integrate EHSMS internal audits with QMS internal audits for ISO 13485 and reviewing QSR.
  • Show more

Health specialist vs environmental health specialist skills

Common health specialist skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Health Education, 8%
  • Public Health, 8%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Veterans, 5%
  • Technical Assistance, 5%
Common environmental health specialist skills
  • Environmental Health, 15%
  • EHS, 8%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Hazardous Waste, 4%
  • Public Health, 3%
  • Risk Assessments, 3%

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