Environmental Economists Career, Salary and Skills
Environmental Economists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $124,720 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 17,790. Wage data is published for 102 locations.
Occupation description
Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.
O*NET code
19-3011.01
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$124,720
Hourly median
$59.96
Employment
17,790
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Mathematics | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.75 |
Typical tasks
- Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.
- Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
- Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
- Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
- Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
- Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
- Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
- Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
Technology
- Aptech Systems GAUSS
- C
- C#
- C++
- Camfit Data Limited Microfit
- Econometric Software LIMDEP
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Estima Regression Analysis of Time Series RATS
- Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
- General algebraic modeling system GAMS
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Global Insight AREMOS
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Insightful S-PLUS
Environmental Economists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Environmental Economists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $156,750 · Employment 4,570
- Environmental Economists Salary in DCMedian $167,590 · Employment 3,000
- Environmental Economists Salary in MDMedian $144,680 · Employment 1,130
- Environmental Economists Salary in MAMedian $106,380 · Employment 1,030
- Environmental Economists Salary in VAMedian $137,590 · Employment 950
- Environmental Economists Salary in NYMedian $136,660 · Employment 910
- Environmental Economists Salary in CAMedian $119,410 · Employment 860
- Environmental Economists Salary in New York, NYMedian $176,090 · Employment 850
- Environmental Economists Salary in Boston, MAMedian $108,140 · Employment 820
- Environmental Economists Salary in PAMedian $115,000 · Employment 560
- Environmental Economists Salary in TXMedian $121,420 · Employment 560
- Environmental Economists Salary in FLMedian $102,430 · Employment 500
Related careers
- Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsNational median $76,780
- Political ScientistsNational median $142,080
- BiologistsNational median $98,920
- HydrologistsNational median $96,600
- Soil and Plant ScientistsNational median $78,850
- SociologistsNational median $106,030
- Financial Risk SpecialistsNational median $117,330
- Financial Quantitative AnalystsNational median $81,100
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.