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The differences between hydrologists and environmental technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a hydrologist, becoming an environmental technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a hydrologist has an average salary of $92,871, which is higher than the $39,690 average annual salary of an environmental technician.
The top three skills for a hydrologist include water resources, data collection and surface water. The most important skills for an environmental technician are patients, OSHA, and hazardous materials.
| Hydrologist | Environmental Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $92,871 | $39,690 |
| Hourly rate | $44.65 | $19.08 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 6,175 | 43,079 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A hydrologist studies the water systems' dynamics in the Earth's crust and uses the data to solve water maintenance issues, water scarcity, water management, water quality, and environmental effects on water systems. These professionals analyze concerns related to hydroelectric power plants, local water projects, and dam safety. Besides measuring water pollution levels, hydrologists also conduct fieldwork to gather soil samples and water samples. They determine water flow, water volume, and PH levels by measuring water properties.
An environmental technician is responsible for identifying, evaluating, preventing, and controlling contamination of the environment. They study how it affects human health with the supervision of environmental engineers and environmental scientists. Environmental technicians work by monitoring the environment and look for possible sources of pollution and contamination that can possibly affect public health. They make sure that environmental violations are prevented. In addition, an environmental technician also investigates any complaint that is related to water quality, air quality, and food safety.
Hydrologists and environmental technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hydrologist | Environmental Technician | |
| Average salary | $92,871 | $39,690 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $135,000 | Between $30,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Silver Spring, MD | Danbury, CT |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Shell | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a hydrologist and an environmental technician in terms of educational background:
| Hydrologist | Environmental Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Geology | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | Duke University |
Here are the differences between hydrologists' and environmental technicians' demographics:
| Hydrologist | Environmental Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% | Male, 73.3% Female, 26.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% Asian, 5.7% White, 81.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |