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The differences between project geologists and environmental scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a project geologist, becoming an environmental scientist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a project geologist has an average salary of $94,932, which is higher than the $60,208 average annual salary of an environmental scientist.
The top three skills for a project geologist include OSHA, data collection and technical reports. The most important skills for an environmental scientist are environmental compliance, data collection, and GIS.
| Project Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $94,932 | $60,208 |
| Hourly rate | $45.64 | $28.95 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 6,805 | 56,425 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
The primary duties of a Project Geologist are to study composition, structure, history, and other aspects of the Earth's crust through the examination of rocks, minerals, and fossil remains. They also collaborate with specialists and technicians about aspects of their work.
Environmental scientists are responsible for analyzing environmental issues and creating their solutions. They protect the environment together with human health by using their understanding of natural science. It is their job to advise policy-makers, work with industry professionals to reduce waste, and clean up polluted areas. Also, they assess environmental risks and research to guide businesses, government administrators, as well as the general public on probable environmental threats and health risks. Additionally, they ensure that these entities follow the environmental regulations and policies to help minimize their environmental impact on the ecosystem.
Project geologists and environmental scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Average salary | $94,932 | $60,208 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $156,000 | Between $43,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | El Paso, TX | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | Texas | California |
| Best paying company | Clean Harbors | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a project geologist and an environmental scientist in terms of educational background:
| Project Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Geology | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between project geologists' and environmental scientists' demographics:
| Project Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% | Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 3.9% White, 83.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 4% | 16% |