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The differences between senior environmental scientists and environmental engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior environmental scientist, becoming an environmental engineer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a senior environmental scientist has an average salary of $82,812, which is higher than the $75,718 average annual salary of an environmental engineer.
The top three skills for a senior environmental scientist include environmental compliance, oversight and project management. The most important skills for an environmental engineer are environmental compliance, project management, and OSHA.
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,812 | $75,718 |
| Hourly rate | $39.81 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 56,184 | 24,787 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
A senior environmental scientist specializes in conducting studies to identify environmental problems and develop solutions to improve its condition. The daily responsibilities of a senior environmental scientist often depend on their place of employment. Still, they typically include performing research and analysis, conducting observations and interviews, gathering samples, preparing documentation, and spearheading laboratory experiments and procedures. Through their research findings, they must produce reports and presentations along with appropriate recommendations. Furthermore, as a senior scientist, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior scientists while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Environmental engineers use the principles of science, biology, engineering, and chemistry to create solutions to certain environmental problems. They primarily work to improve waste disposal, public health, recycling, and to control water and air pollution. It is also their responsibility to address global issues, such as climate change, unsafe drinking water, and environmental sustainability. They typically prepare and review environmental investigation reports so that documents and permits are updated and in compliance with environmental regulations.
Senior environmental scientists and environmental engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,812 | $75,718 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $113,000 | Between $58,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Technip USA Corporation | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior environmental scientist and an environmental engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between senior environmental scientists' and environmental engineers' demographics:
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 70.5% Female, 29.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.9% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 13% |