Careers / Environmental Economists
Environmental Economists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$124,720
United States, 2025
Employment
17,790
United States, 2025
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$67,360
25th percentile
$89,330
75th percentile
$174,720
90th percentile
$238,060
Most important skills
- Writing4.1
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Mathematics4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Speaking3.5
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Learning Strategies3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 19 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
19
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 4.0 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Writing | 4.1 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.5 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Instructing | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Management of Financial Resources | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $76,780
Compare with Environmental EconomistsSupplemental
National median $81,100
Compare with Environmental EconomistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $176,090 | 850 | 2025 |
| DC | $167,590 | 3,000 | 2025 |
| NJ | $167,550 | 280 | 2025 |
| DE | $159,120 | 70 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $156,750 | 4,570 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $152,730 | 110 | 2025 |
| Durham, NC | $152,130 | 120 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $151,510 | 200 | 2025 |
| MD | $144,680 | 1,130 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $142,400 | 200 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $139,530 | 220 | 2025 |
| KS | $138,790 | 80 | 2025 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $138,260 | 30 | 2025 |
| VA | $137,590 | 950 | 2025 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $136,990 | 30 | 2025 |
| NY | $136,660 | 910 | 2025 |
| NC | $136,150 | 290 | 2025 |
| St. Louis, MO | $132,630 | 90 | 2025 |
| ID | $131,270 | 130 | 2025 |
| AL | $129,960 | 40 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Environmental Economists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.