Career comparison
Environmental Health Specialist vs. Environmental Science Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Environmental science professors earn more at the median ($94,980 vs. $82,220), while environmental health specialists usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Environmental health specialists inspect restaurants, pools, water and housing to protect public health. Environmental science professors teach how people and the environment interact, and how to protect it.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Environmental Health Specialist | Environmental Science Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $82,220 ($39.53/hr) | $94,980 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $52,520 – $140,010 | $57,780 – $164,190 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.1% (faster than average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 7,300 | 600 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS/RS) | Ph.D. in environmental science |
| Work setting | Specialists work in health department offices and in the field at restaurants, pools, homes and businesses. | Faculty work in classrooms, labs and field sites.. |
What each job does
Environmental Health Specialist
- Inspect restaurants, food stores and processors
- Review plans for new food and pool facilities
- Test pools, private wells and water supplies
- Evaluate and permit septic systems
- Investigate complaints and foodborne illness outbreaks
Environmental Science Professor
- Teach environmental science courses
- Lead field sampling labs
- Conduct research
- Partner with communities and agencies
- Mentor students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, working outdoors, and working independently. They sit in different fields, safety & environmental and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as communication and communication.
Which should you choose?
Choose environmental health specialist if…
- I like science that protects people
- I don’t mind enforcing rules
- I like working in the field
Choose environmental science professor if…
- I care about the environment
- I like field research
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the Environmental Health Specialist fit quiz and the Environmental Science Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, environmental health specialist or environmental science professor?
Environmental Science Professors earn more at the median: $94,980 versus $82,220 for environmental health specialists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Environmental Health Specialists typically train faster (4 years) than environmental science professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects environmental health specialists to grow +6.1% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for environmental science professors.