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The differences between water resource specialists and water technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a water resource specialist has an average salary of $65,270, which is higher than the $38,723 average annual salary of a water technician.
The top three skills for a water resource specialist include water resources, GIS and data entry. The most important skills for a water technician are customer service, work ethic, and hand tools.
| Water Resource Specialist | Water Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $65,270 | $38,723 |
| Hourly rate | $31.38 | $18.62 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 11,380 | 34,702 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
A water resource specialist is tasked with implementing strategies to solve water resource issues like water quality, water supply, or regulatory compliance issues. They perform hydraulic, hydrologic, and water quality analysis and modeling. They are also tasked with creating proposals, informational brochures, and similar documents on water purification, demand, and supply. A university degree and efficient communication skills are both needed to excel in this field.
Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency. They must also keep records of all operations, producing progress reports as needed. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with co-workers for a smooth workflow.
Water resource specialists and water technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Resource Specialist | Water Technician | |
| Average salary | $65,270 | $38,723 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $103,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | White Plains, NY | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Idaho |
| Best paying company | Santa Clara Valley Water District | Vishay |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a water resource specialist and a water technician in terms of educational background:
| Water Resource Specialist | Water Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between water resource specialists' and water technicians' demographics:
| Water Resource Specialist | Water Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |