Environmental Economists

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Life, Physical & Social Science
• O*NET-SOC code: 19-3011
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
• Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
• Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
• Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
• Teach courses in environmental economics.

Tools and technology

C, C#, C++, ESRI ArcGIS software, IBM SPSS Statistics, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Visual Basic

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Economists
• Climate Change Policy Analysts
• Industrial Ecologists
• Data Scientists
• Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
• Chief Sustainability Officers
• Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
• Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Environmental Economists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.