# Climate Change Policy Analysts

> Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/climate-change-policy-analysts
- SOC code: 19-2041.01
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $82,220 (10th percentile $52,520, 90th percentile $140,010)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.1%
- Openings a year: 7,300
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Environmental scientists and specialists, including health".

## Interest profile (code IEC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 6 |
| Investigative (I) | 96 |
| Artistic (A) | 35 |
| Social (S) | 36 |
| Enterprising (E) | 62 |
| Conventional (C) | 51 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 94/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 83/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 82/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 81/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 78/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 77/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Writing, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation, Systems Analysis, Time Management

## Knowledge

Law and Government, English Language, Mathematics, Communications and Media, Engineering and Technology, Geography, Administration and Management, Physics, Transportation, Biology

## Also called

Clean Energy Policy Analyst, Climate Advisor, Climate Analyst, Climate and Energy Program Associate, Climate Change Analyst, Climate Change Risk Assessor, Climate Change Specialist, Climate Economist, Cumulative Effects Analyst, Ecological Risk Assessor

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 colleges)
- [Natural Resources Conservation and Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0301) (CIP 0301, 1,081 colleges)
- [Public Health](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5122) (CIP 5122, 836 colleges)
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3033) (CIP 3033, 279 colleges)
- [Pharmacology and Toxicology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2610) (CIP 2610, 109 colleges)
- [Geography and Environmental Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3044) (CIP 3044, 67 colleges)
- Marine Sciences (CIP 3032, 40 colleges)
- Environmental Geosciences (CIP 3041, 17 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of California-Santa Barbara UCSB](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-santa-barbara-ucsb-2888) | Pharmacology and Toxicology | $42,364 | $98,462 | $11,000 |
| [Utah State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-state-university-3102) | Public Health | $77,239 | $93,161 | not reported |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Chemistry | $51,144 | $93,122 | $18,250 |
| [The College of New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-college-of-new-jersey-2736) | Chemistry | not reported | $90,396 | $27,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Public Health | not reported | $89,522 | $17,279 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Chemistry | $84,338 | $88,364 | not reported |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Public Health | $55,305 | $87,217 | $19,500 |
| [Montana Technological University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/montana-technological-university-1758) | Public Health | not reported | $86,855 | $25,200 |

## Related careers

- [Chief Sustainability Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-sustainability-officers): $213,990 median pay
- [Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-scientists-and-specialists-including-health): $82,220 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Environmental Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Sustainability Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sustainability-specialists): $83,050 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.