Jobs Similar to Industrial Ecologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to industrial ecologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Water Resource Specialists, Atmospheric and Space Scientists and Hydrologists.
Industrial Ecologists: $82,220 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Industrial Ecologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water Resource Specialists | 80% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Atmospheric and Space ScientistsSame group | 79% | $99,070 | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | HydrologistsSame group | 79% | $96,600 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersSame group | 79% | $101,920 | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 79% | $78,850 | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Environmental Engineers | 79% | $107,110 | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | AstronomersSame group | 79% | $128,820 | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Environmental Restoration PlannersSame group | 78% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Materials ScientistsSame group | 78% | $117,790 | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Petroleum Engineers | 78% | $144,910 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Remote Sensing Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 78% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Conservation Scientists | 77% | $73,010 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 77% | $106,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Animal Scientists | 77% | $68,940 | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Agricultural Engineers | 77% | $98,590 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Bioinformatics Scientists | 77% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 77% | $171,270Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Water/Wastewater Engineers | 76% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | PhysicistsSame group | 76% | $172,250 | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Operations Research Analysts | 75% | $88,940 | Graduate degree |
- 1Water Resource Specialists
80% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Atmospheric and Space Scientists
79% similar · $99,070 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Hydrologists
79% similar · $96,600 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
79% similar · $101,920 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Soil and Plant Scientists
79% similar · $78,850 · Graduate degree
- 6Environmental Engineers
79% similar · $107,110 · Bachelor's degree
- 7Astronomers
79% similar · $128,820 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Environmental Restoration Planners
78% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Materials Scientists
78% similar · $117,790 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Petroleum Engineers
78% similar · $144,910 · Bachelor's degree
- 11Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
78% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Conservation Scientists
77% similar · $73,010 · Bachelor's degree
- 13Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
77% similar · $106,220 · Bachelor's degree
- 14Animal Scientists
77% similar · $68,940 · Graduate degree
- 15Agricultural Engineers
77% similar · $98,590 · Bachelor's degree
- 16Bioinformatics Scientists
77% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
77% similar · $171,270 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Water/Wastewater Engineers
76% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Physicists
76% similar · $172,250 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Operations Research Analysts
75% similar · $88,940 · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Water Resource Specialists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Hydrologists79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Environmental Engineers79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Materials Scientists78% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for industrial ecologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where industrial ecologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Soil and Plant Scientists (89)
- Water Resource Specialists (85)
- Environmental Economists (83)
- Conservation Scientists (82)
- Biologists (79)
- Agricultural Engineers (78)
- Animal Scientists (77)
- Bioinformatics Scientists (77)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (76)
- Operations Research Analysts (75)
Questions about jobs like industrial ecologists
What jobs are most similar to industrial ecologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Water Resource Specialists (80% similar), Atmospheric and Space Scientists (79% similar), Hydrologists (79% similar), Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) (79% similar) and Soil and Plant Scientists (79% similar).
Do jobs like industrial ecologists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than industrial ecologists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.