Wildlife health specialist vs field naturalist

The differences between wildlife health specialists and field naturalists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a wildlife health specialist and a field naturalist. Additionally, a wildlife health specialist has an average salary of $44,267, which is higher than the $38,213 average annual salary of a field naturalist.

The top three skills for a wildlife health specialist include ladders, GPS and wild animals. The most important skills for a field naturalist are social science, native plants, and .

Wildlife health specialist vs field naturalist overview

	Wildlife Health Specialist	Field Naturalist
Yearly salary	$44,267	$38,213
Hourly rate	$21.28	$18.37
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	52,222	44,776
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	2	2

Wildlife health specialist vs field naturalist salary

Wildlife health specialists and field naturalists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Wildlife Health Specialist	Field Naturalist
Average salary	$44,267	$38,213
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $63,000	Between $22,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City	Escondido, CA	-
Highest paying state	Alaska	-
Best paying company	Rollins	-
Best paying industry	Professional	-

Differences between wildlife health specialist and field naturalist education

There are a few differences between a wildlife health specialist and a field naturalist in terms of educational background:

	Wildlife Health Specialist	Field Naturalist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 87%
Most common major	Biology	Environmental Science
Most common college	University of California - Davis	University of California - Davis

Wildlife health specialist vs field naturalist demographics

Here are the differences between wildlife health specialists' and field naturalists' demographics:

	Wildlife Health Specialist	Field Naturalist
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1%	Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% Asian, 11.1% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between wildlife health specialist and field naturalist duties and responsibilities

Wildlife health specialist example responsibilities.

Utilize ArcGIS to create navigational maps, as well as uploading, managing and analyzing data for habitat suitability.
Volunteer weekly and gain experience that aid in obtaining a state license in wildlife rehabilitation.
Prepare the database and used ArcView GIS to prepare maps.
Utilize GPS receivers to map plot locations for wildlife census work.
Test water pH and conductivity, conduct water sampling with the EPA.
Trap types consist of havahearts, foot holds, snares and body catches.

Field naturalist example responsibilities.

Lead tour groups on both bicycles and kayaks, man small retail/rental outlet as only staff person.
Handle an assortment of animals, such as rats and snakes.
Establish and maintain appropriate systems to monitor, evaluate and report on all operational activities including logistics and program implementation.
Advise area NGOs on policy implications base on preliminary research findings.

Wildlife health specialist vs field naturalist skills

Common wildlife health specialist skills

Ladders, 27%
GPS, 12%
Wild Animals, 10%
GIS, 10%
Natural Resources, 8%
Management Practices, 6%

Common field naturalist skills

Social Science, 86%
Native Plants, 14%

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Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Wildlife Health Specialist
Wildlife Health Specialist vs Field Naturalist

Updated January 8, 2025

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