Environmental Economists
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.
Also called: Agricultural Economist, Ecological Economist, Energy Economist, Environment and Natural Resources Economics Researcher, Environmental Economist, Environmental Protection Economist
Median pay
$124,720
Pay for the broader BLS group “Economists”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$67,360 – $238,060
People employed
17,790
Whole BLS group
Holland code
IEC
Investigative · Enterprising · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 3.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 4.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 5.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 6.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 7.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 8.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
Environmental Economists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (39 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Economists”.
What environmental economists do
- 01Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
- 02Conduct 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.
- 03Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
- 04Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
- 05Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
- 06Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
Skills that matter most
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from environmental economists
- Climate Change Policy Analysts87% · group pay
- Financial Quantitative Analysts86% · group pay
- Industrial Ecologists83% · group pay
- Statisticians83% · —
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary81% · —
Change into environmental economists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Climate Change Policy Analysts87% · $82,220
- Statisticians83% · $105,650
- Financial Quantitative Analysts82% · $81,100
- Industrial Ecologists77% · $82,220
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary75% · $123,920
Majors that lead here
- Agricultural Economics
- Environmental/Natural Resource Economics
- Financial Mathematics
- Economics and Computer Science
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
- Mathematical Economics
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- Economics, General
- Applied Economics
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Development Economics and International Development
- International Economics
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.