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The differences between staff 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 staff geologist, becoming an environmental scientist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a staff geologist has an average salary of $108,966, which is higher than the $60,208 average annual salary of an environmental scientist.
The top three skills for a staff geologist include data collection, OSHA and HAZWOPER. The most important skills for an environmental scientist are environmental compliance, data collection, and GIS.
| Staff Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $108,966 | $60,208 |
| Hourly rate | $52.39 | $28.95 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 68,971 | 56,425 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A Staff Geologist performs field explorations, analyzes environmental conditionals, and generates reports for the assigned project. They can work for government environmental agencies, mining companies, engineering firms, or city planning offices.
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.
Staff geologists and environmental scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Average salary | $108,966 | $60,208 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $189,000 | Between $43,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Corpus Christi, TX | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | Texas | California |
| Best paying company | ConocoPhillips | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a staff geologist and an environmental scientist in terms of educational background:
| Staff Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | 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 staff geologists' and environmental scientists' demographics:
| Staff Geologist | Environmental Scientist | |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% | Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 3.6% White, 83.0% 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% |