Environmental Economists earn a median of $124,720 per year ($59.96/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.7% through 2035, with about 1,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 19-3011
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Environmental Economist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $124,720a year, or $59.96/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $67KTop 10% $238K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.7%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,10018,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202518.6K
- Projected 203519.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 18.6K Projected 2035 19.5K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's11.1%
- Master's40.7%
- Doctorate44.4%
- Post-doctoral training3.7%
Highest education held by environmental economists Segment Value Bachelor's 11.1% Master's 40.7% Doctorate 44.4% Post-doctoral training 3.7%
Also advertised as: Environmental Economist, Natural Resource Economist, Research Economist, Resource Economist.
Pay
How much do Environmental Economists make?
Every environmental economist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$124,720
Middle half earn $89,330 to $174,720
- 10th
- $67,360
- 25th
- $89,330
- 75th
- $174,720
- 90th
- $238,060
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $67,360 |
| 25th | $89,330 |
| Median | $124,720 |
| 75th | $174,720 |
| 90th | $238,060 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $124,720
- Median hourly wage
- $59.96/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $142,130
- People employed
- 17,790
Versus all US occupations
At $124,720, Environmental Economists earn 145% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $73,740 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 52% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $238,060 or more while the bottom 10% earn $67,360, a gap of 3.5×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 86% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($167,590), but once local prices are taken into account Delaware leads at $159,426 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Environmental Economists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $167,590 | $152,492 | 3,000 |
| 2New Jersey | $167,550 | $153,991 | 280 |
| 3Delaware | $159,120 | $159,426 | 70 |
| 4Maryland | $144,680 | $137,844 | 1,130 |
| 5Kansas | $138,790 | $154,095 | 80 |
| 6Virginia | $137,590 | $136,088 | 950 |
| 7New York | $136,660 | $126,630 | 910 |
| 8North Carolina | $136,150 | $144,340 | 290 |
| 9Idaho | $131,270 | $137,464 | 130 |
| 10Alabama | $129,960 | $146,313 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Environmental Economist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Environmental Economists | +4.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Environmental Economists to change 4.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,100 openings are projected each year, 5.9% of the 18,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Organizations across many industries use economic analysis and quantitative methods to study and forecast business, sales, and other market trends. Employment demand will stem from organizations that turn to economists to apply analysis of big data to pricing, advertising, and other areas. The increasing complexity of the global economy also is expected to support demand for economists. However, employment of these workers will depend, in part, on future changes to federal, state, and local government budgets.
Getting in
How to become an Environmental Economist
Economists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. However, some economists, primarily in government, qualify for positions with a bachelor’s degree. Others need a Ph.D.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as environmental economists.
- Doctoral Degree44.4%
- Master's Degree40.7%
- Bachelor's Degree11.1%
- Post-Doctoral Training3.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 44.4% |
| Master's Degree | 40.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 11.1% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 3.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Environmental Economist do?
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.
Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most economists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where environmental economists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Federal government, excluding postal service26%
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services22%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals14%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals9%
- Scientific research and development services6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 26% |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 22% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 14% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 9% |
| Scientific research and development services | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Writing4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Mathematics4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Speaking3.5
- Monitoring3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Instructing3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Management of Financial Resources3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Management of Financial Resources | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Environmental Economist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Environmental Economist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Investigative7.0
- Enterprising4.1
- Conventional4.1
- Realistic2.7
- Artistic2.5
- Social2.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Environmental Economist
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Computer and Mathematical
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Management
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with environmental economists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Environmental Economist$124,720
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Environmental Economist | $124,720 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Environmental Economist appears on
Questions
Environmental Economist: frequently asked questions
How much do Environmental Economists make?
Environmental Economists earn a median of $124,720 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 145% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $59.96/hr. The middle half earn between $89,330 and $174,720. The top 10% earn $238,060 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Environmental Economist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Environmental Economists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 44.4% hold doctoral degree.
Is Environmental Economist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.7% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Environmental Economist do?
Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. A core O*NET task: write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Environmental Economists the most?
The highest state medians for Environmental Economists are District of Columbia ($167,590), New Jersey ($167,550), Delaware ($159,120) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Delaware moves to the top at $159,426.
What personality type suits an Environmental Economist?
O*NET scores Environmental Economists highest on the Investigative, Enterprising and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.