Careers / Industrial Ecologists
Industrial Ecologists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$82,220
United States, 2025
Employment
89,250
United States, 2025
Typical education
Master's Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.
- O*NET code
- 19-2041.03
- Job zone
- 5
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
- Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
- Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.
- Conduct environmental sustainability assessments, using material flow analysis (MFA) or substance flow analysis (SFA) techniques.
- Identify sustainable alternatives to industrial or waste-management practices.
- Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.
- Redesign linear, or open-loop, systems into cyclical, or closed-loop, systems so that waste products become inputs for new processes, modeling natural ecosystems.
- Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$52,520
25th percentile
$64,490
75th percentile
$107,970
90th percentile
$140,010
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Writing4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Active Learning3.6
- Science3.6
- Mathematics3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.4
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 20 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
20
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.6 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 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 $59,920
Compare with Industrial EcologistsSupplemental
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Compare with Industrial EcologistsSupplemental
National median $171,270
Compare with Industrial EcologistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | $132,620 | 1,270 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $129,110 | 300 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $127,210 | 1,320 | 2025 |
| Monroe, MI | $114,160 | 80 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | $110,260 | 170 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $109,710 | 190 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $109,710 | 40 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $108,430 | 3,520 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $108,160 | 2,710 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $106,510 | 340 | 2025 |
| CA | $106,510 | 12,490 | 2025 |
| Redding, CA | $106,510 | 130 | 2025 |
| Yuba City, CA | $106,510 | 60 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $106,100 | 1,140 | 2025 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $105,810 | 210 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $105,340 | 2,520 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $105,230 | 130 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,110 | 670 | 2025 |
| Springfield, MA | $103,930 | 120 | 2025 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,840 | 40 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Industrial Ecologists 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.