# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-economists
- SOC code: 19-3011.01
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $124,720 (10th percentile $67,360, 90th percentile $238,060)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.7%
- Openings a year: 1,100
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Economists".

## Interest profile (code IEC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 29 |
| Investigative (I) | 100 |
| Artistic (A) | 25 |
| Social (S) | 21 |
| Enterprising (E) | 52 |
| Conventional (C) | 51 |

## What you'd do

- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 96/100)
- Getting Information (importance 93/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 91/100)
- Processing Information (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 80/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 76/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 72/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 71/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 69/100)

## Skills

Writing, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Speaking

## Knowledge

Mathematics, Economics and Accounting, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Law and Government, Geography, Sociology and Anthropology, Communications and Media, Psychology

## Also called

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

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

- [Political Science and Government](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4510) (CIP 4510, 1,292 colleges)
- [Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4506) (CIP 4506, 925 colleges)
- [Applied Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2703) (CIP 2703, 426 colleges)
- [Agricultural Business and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0101) (CIP 0101, 394 colleges)
- [Business/Managerial Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5206) (CIP 5206, 258 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)
- [Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5120) (CIP 5120, 175 colleges)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (CIP 3051, 22 colleges)
- Mathematical Economics (CIP 3049, 13 colleges)
- Economics and Computer Science (CIP 3039, 11 colleges)
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature (CIP 3040, 1 college)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Applied Mathematics | $145,554 | $170,689 | not reported |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Economics | $105,744 | $166,678 | $9,750 |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Business/Managerial Economics | $102,081 | $162,355 | not reported |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Economics | $124,433 | $161,149 | $13,000 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Economics | $108,471 | $160,763 | not reported |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Economics | $98,564 | $159,578 | $12,500 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Applied Mathematics | $135,449 | $157,822 | $8,125 |
| [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stevens-institute-of-technology-2604) | Applied Mathematics | $105,295 | $156,419 | $23,250 |

## Related careers

- [Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Climate Change Policy Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/climate-change-policy-analysts): $82,220 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Data Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-scientists): $120,230 median pay
- [Economics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economics-teachers-postsecondary): $123,920 median pay
- [Chief Sustainability Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-sustainability-officers): $213,990 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.