Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior environmental scientists and environmental programs specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior environmental scientist and an environmental programs specialist. Additionally, a senior environmental scientist has an average salary of $82,812, which is higher than the $55,129 average annual salary of an environmental programs specialist.
The top three skills for a senior environmental scientist include environmental compliance, oversight and project management. The most important skills for an environmental programs specialist are environmental quality, environmental regulations, and EPA.
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Programs Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $82,812 | $55,129 |
| Hourly rate | $39.81 | $26.50 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 56,184 | 18,178 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 program specialists ensure that all environmental protocols and standards are followed in the work area. They work with janitorial services to ensure that cleanliness is maintained and wastes are correctly disposed of. If the standards have not been followed, they investigate and report it to the administration and assess the event's effect on the environment. They also conduct hands-on experiments to look for issues and provide remedies according to environmental standards.
Senior environmental scientists and environmental programs specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Programs Specialist | |
| Average salary | $82,812 | $55,129 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $113,000 | Between $35,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Technip USA Corporation | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior environmental scientist and an environmental programs specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Programs Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior environmental scientists' and environmental programs specialists' demographics:
| Senior Environmental Scientist | Environmental Programs Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 52.2% Female, 47.8% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 81.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |