Environmental Economists

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.

Also Known As

• Environmental Economist
• Natural Resource Economist
• Research Economist
• Resource Economist

Alternate Job Titles

• Agricultural Economist
• Ecological Economist
• Energy Economist
• Environment and Natural Resources Economics Researcher
• Environmental Economist
• Environmental Protection Economist
• Marine Resource Economist
• Natural Resource Economist
• Natural Resource Specialist
• Research Economist
• Resource Economist

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Mathematics
• Economics and Accounting
• English Language
• Computers and Electronics

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Writing
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Active Listening
4. Mathematics
5. Critical Thinking
6. Active Learning
7. Complex Problem Solving
8. Judgment and Decision Making

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Written Comprehension
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Number Facility
• Speech Clarity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Achievement
• Independence
• Working Conditions
• Recognition
• Relationships

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Doctoral Degree

On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration

Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• C
• C#
• C++
• ESRI ArcGIS software
• IBM SPSS Statistics
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint

Tools & Equipment

• 10-key calculators
• Computer data input scanners
• Desktop computers
• Laptop computers
• Mainframe computers
• Personal computers

Work Environment

• E-Mail
• Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
• Freedom to Make Decisions
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
• Spend Time Sitting

Salary & Job Market

Wages reported for the broader Economists occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Environmental Economists.

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$62,340
Median	$115,440
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$212,710

Workers Employed Nationally: 15,880

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.