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.
Also Known As
- Ecologist
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Protection Agency Counselor
- Research Scientist
Alternate Job Titles
- Aquatic Ecologist
- Eco-Industrial Development Consultant
- Ecological Professional
- Ecologist
- Environmental Business Development Associate
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Protection Activist
- Environmental Protection Agency Counselor
- Environmental Protection Specialist
- Forest Ecologist
- Industrial Ecologist
- Industrial Green Systems Designer
- Industrial Retrofit Designer
- Life Cycle Assessment Analyst
- Natural Resources Energy Specialist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Conduct life cycle assessments of products.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Chemistry
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Systems Analysis
- Science
- Active Learning
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
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
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apache Hadoop
- Atlassian JIRA
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C#
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Git
- Linux
Tools & Equipment
- Computer data input scanners
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
Work Environment
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Industrial Ecologists.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $50,130 |
| Median | $80,060 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $134,830 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 84,930
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Conservation Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Environmental Restoration Planners
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Water Resource Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $161,180
Soil and Plant Scientists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $71,410
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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.