Pipeline technician vs environmental field technician

The differences between pipeline technicians and environmental field technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a pipeline technician and an environmental field technician. Additionally, a pipeline technician has an average salary of $40,614, which is higher than the $38,450 average annual salary of an environmental field technician.

The top three skills for a pipeline technician include DOT, safety equipment and excavations. The most important skills for an environmental field technician are OSHA, data collection, and HAZWOPER.

Pipeline technician vs environmental field technician overview

	Pipeline Technician	Environmental Field Technician
Yearly salary	$40,614	$38,450
Hourly rate	$19.53	$18.49
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	11,313	76,665
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	2

What does a pipeline technician do?

A pipeline technician specializes in the maintenance of pipeline systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include liaising with clients and traveling to their locations, assessing the site conditions, performing tests and inspections using special equipment and computer programs, and repairing leaks and other detected issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a pipeline technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with team members, coordinating with them every step of the way for a safe and effective service.

What does an environmental field technician do?

An environmental field technician, often known as an environmental science and protection technician, is an individual who conducts tests on the environment and determines the impact of a potential source of pollutants. Environmental field technicians investigate pollution sources by performing testing of groundwater samples in the field. They must ensure that proper safety procedures and equipment are utilized as well as implement on-site safety procedures to individual company specifications. Environmental field technicians must also coordinate with construction management to ensure that they are following the comprehensive environmental compliance throughout the phases of construction.

Pipeline technician vs environmental field technician salary

Pipeline technicians and environmental field technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Pipeline Technician	Environmental Field Technician
Average salary	$40,614	$38,450
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $63,000	Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between pipeline technician and environmental field technician education

There are a few differences between a pipeline technician and an environmental field technician in terms of educational background:

	Pipeline Technician	Environmental Field Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Business	Environmental Science
Most common college	-	Duke University

Pipeline technician vs environmental field technician demographics

Here are the differences between pipeline technicians' and environmental field technicians' demographics:

	Pipeline Technician	Environmental Field Technician
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%	Male, 85.5% Female, 14.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between pipeline technician and environmental field technician duties and responsibilities

Pipeline technician example responsibilities.

Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
Establish and maintain spatial databases using ESRI ArcGIS.
Receive training in management, civil rights, computer security, and ArcGIS.
Monitor the gas flow rates from the meter to assure the pigs will launch and be receive.
Keep general area clean per OSHA regulations wear the basic, PPE on pipeline construction site hard hat.
Perform daily, weekly and annual maintenance on pumps, compressors, generators, boosters, flanges and pigs.

Environmental field technician example responsibilities.

Provide contractor oversight, including monitoring of technical performance of sub-contractors managing remedial cleanup projects involving hazardous waste.
Complete field forms, draw sketch maps, profiles and plan view field drawings.
Identify and correct safety shortfalls in confine space entry, explosive atmosphere, and fall protection to ensure OSHA compliance.
Create sketch maps of artifact distribution, and site features.
Read topographic maps in addition to using hand hold and tablet base GPS units.
Insulate and push copper thru a chase along with ac wire and drain line.

Pipeline technician vs environmental field technician skills

Common pipeline technician skills

DOT, 7%
Safety Equipment, 6%
Excavations, 6%
Pump Stations, 6%
Pipeline Operations, 4%
Routine Maintenance, 4%

Common environmental field technician skills

OSHA, 11%
Data Collection, 9%
HAZWOPER, 9%
Safety Procedures, 7%
Hand Tools, 6%
GPS, 5%

Pipeline Technician vs. similar jobs

Pipeline Technician related careers

Pipeline Technician related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Pipeline Technician
Pipeline Technician vs Environmental Field Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs