Mud logger vs environmental specialist

The differences between mud loggers and environmental specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a mud logger, becoming an environmental specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mud logger has an average salary of $99,535, which is higher than the $54,482 average annual salary of an environmental specialist.

The top three skills for a mud logger include enhance safety, mechanical equipment and data acquisition systems. The most important skills for an environmental specialist are hazardous waste, environmental compliance, and hazardous materials.

Mud logger vs environmental specialist overview

	Mud Logger	Environmental Specialist
Yearly salary	$99,535	$54,482
Hourly rate	$47.85	$26.19
Growth rate	7%	5%
Number of jobs	741	18,074
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	38	39
Years of experience	2	6

What does a mud logger do?

A mudlogger works at oil and gas companies where they are primarily in charge of supervising drilling operations to gather data from various procedures. They are responsible for maintaining accurate records of drilling activities and other processes, writing down descriptions, and producing detailed reports that companies can utilize when making decisions. Moreover, in some companies, a mudlogger may also take photos and videos, gather and analyze samples through various laboratory procedures, conduct inspections, perform risk assessments, coordinate with geologists, and implement safety policies and standards to maintain a safe and efficient workflow.

What does an environmental specialist do?

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.

Mud logger vs environmental specialist salary

Mud loggers and environmental specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Mud Logger	Environmental Specialist
Average salary	$99,535	$54,482
Salary range	Between $74,000 And $133,000	Between $36,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Texas Instruments
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between mud logger and environmental specialist education

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

	Mud Logger	Environmental Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Geology	Environmental Science
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Mud logger vs environmental specialist demographics

Here are the differences between mud loggers' and environmental specialists' demographics:

	Mud Logger	Environmental Specialist
Average age	38	39
Gender ratio	Male, 86.4% Female, 13.6%	Male, 62.6% Female, 37.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% 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%

Differences between mud logger and environmental specialist duties and responsibilities

Mud logger example responsibilities.

Manage, design and supervise geologic investigation drilling plans relate to environmental, geotechnical and mining projects.
Work on LCM jobs gaining knowledge of down hole ECD as well as on low weight system WBM and OBM.
Oversee WBM to OBM conversions of systems or combining different weight fluids when applicable.
Insure all personnel utilize PPE.
Operate the most advance centrifuges in the industry.
Work on centrifuges, shakers, dryers and augers.

Environmental specialist example responsibilities.

Manage all compliance recordkeeping, sampling, monitoring, auditing, testing and training activities.
Lead numerous consultation meetings with USACE, BOEM, USCG, NMFS, USFWS and other state and federal agencies.
Conduct environmental and safety due diligence on industrial facilities of clients to evaluate compliance with applicable OSHA safety guidelines and EPA regulations
Experience reviewing existing sewer collection, and conveyance plans.
Create an air-cleaning approach to eliminate acid use in the groundwater conveyance pipes.
Complete SPCC field verification, personnel interviews, and reviews of SPCC operating procedures, documentation, and incident reports.

Mud logger vs environmental specialist skills

Common mud logger skills

Enhance Safety, 15%
Mechanical Equipment, 8%
Data Acquisition Systems, 7%
Laboratory Techniques, 6%
Drill Cuttings, 5%
MWD, 4%

Common environmental specialist skills

Hazardous Waste, 9%
Environmental Compliance, 8%
Hazardous Materials, 6%
EPA, 6%
Customer Service, 5%
HAZWOPER, 5%

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Mud Logger vs Environmental Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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