Environmental Economists Salary in Washington, DC

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Environmental Economists in Washington, DC have a median annual salary of $156,750, with 4,570 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $93,440 at the 10th percentile to $259,290 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$156,750

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$75.36

Employment

4,570

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$93,440
10th
$115,830
25th
$156,750
Median
$195,190
75th
$259,290
90th

Local compared with national

Washington, DC

$156,750

Median annual · 2025

United States

$124,720

Median annual · 2025

The Washington, DC median is 25.7% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $32,030).

Top skills

  1. 1.WritingImportance 4.1
  2. 2.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
  3. 3.Active ListeningImportance 4.0
  4. 4.MathematicsImportance 4.0
  5. 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.0
  6. 6.Active LearningImportance 3.9
  7. 7.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.6
  8. 8.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.6
  9. 9.SpeakingImportance 3.5
  10. 10.MonitoringImportance 3.5
  11. 11.Systems AnalysisImportance 3.4
  12. 12.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
None
Job zone
5

Technology used

  • 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
  • Microsoft Access

Common 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.
  • Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
  • Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Environmental Economists salary in other locations

Other occupations in Washington, DC