Industrial Ecologists: Career Profile
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.
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The Daily Work of Industrial Ecologists Perform?
Typical responsibilities of industrial ecologists span:
- 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.
- Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
Skills and Knowledge
Top industrial ecologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Industrial Ecologists Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aquatic Ecologist
- Eco-Industrial Development Consultant
- Ecological Professional
- Ecologist
- Environmental Business Development Associate
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Protection Activist
- Environmental Protection Agency Counselor
Job Outlook
There are about 125,909 industrial ecologists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +8.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Industrial Ecologists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $83,212 |
| Hourly median | $40.01 |
| 10th percentile | $58,672 |
| 25th percentile | $70,942 |
| 75th percentile | $95,482 |
| 90th percentile | $107,752 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Industrial Ecologists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $122,440 |
| California | $97,520 |
| Massachusetts | $96,330 |
| Oregon | $93,560 |
| Rhode Island | $90,460 |
| Illinois | $89,010 |
| Washington | $88,670 |
| Minnesota | $87,210 |
| Alaska | $87,060 |
| Colorado | $86,720 |
| Maryland | $82,100 |
| Georgia | $82,030 |
| Utah | $81,480 |
| Connecticut | $81,370 |
| North Dakota | $81,260 |
| Ohio | $80,640 |
| Nevada | $80,480 |
| New York | $80,240 |
| New Jersey | $79,920 |
| New Mexico | $79,250 |
| New Hampshire | $79,230 |
| Arizona | $78,870 |
| Texas | $78,560 |
| Montana | $78,510 |
| Virginia | $78,140 |
| West Virginia | $77,980 |
| Indiana | $77,380 |
| Tennessee | $76,900 |
| Michigan | $76,670 |
| Arkansas | $75,620 |
| Hawaii | $75,050 |
| Alabama | $74,660 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 |
| Iowa | $74,060 |
| Kansas | $73,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,040 |
| South Dakota | $71,510 |
| Vermont | $69,330 |
| Kentucky | $68,990 |
| Wisconsin | $68,980 |
| Oklahoma | $67,530 |
| Louisiana | $67,260 |
| Missouri | $67,190 |
| Idaho | $66,710 |
| South Carolina | $65,960 |
| North Carolina | $65,800 |
| Delaware | $62,780 |
| Guam | $62,170 |
| Nebraska | $61,260 |
| Maine | $60,880 |
| Florida | $59,510 |
| Virgin Islands | $56,400 |
| Mississippi | $55,110 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,250 |
Where Industrial Ecologists Earn the Most
Compensation for industrial ecologists differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $93,938 | 24.2% | 1.59 |
| New England | $87,163 | 6.2% | 1.41 |
| Middle Atlantic | $83,442 | 14.8% | 1.29 |
| Rocky Mountains | $81,100 | 5.9% | 1.58 |
| Great Lakes | $78,970 | 10.1% | 0.80 |
| Southwest | $78,042 | 8.5% | 0.92 |
| Plains States | $77,498 | 5.5% | 0.91 |
| Southeast | $68,239 | 24.1% | 1.11 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Industrial Ecologists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $110,240 | 1,630 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $109,520 | 2,780 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $108,310 | 330 |
| Monroe, MI | MI | $107,990 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $102,420 | 3,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $101,540 | 2,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $99,750 | 450 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $99,280 | 210 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of industrial ecologists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32,170 | $77,920 |
| Educational Services | 2,640 | $82,360 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2,610 | $74,910 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,910 | $101,330 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,690 | $74,670 |
| Manufacturing | 1,220 | $107,990 |
| Utilities | 1,160 | $108,480 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 690 | $73,180 |
Below are examples of industries where industrial ecologists work:
Software Industrial Ecologists Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Project management software: Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C# (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- File versioning software: Git (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for industrial ecologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Telephone Conversations
Education and Training
Most industrial ecologists positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (Supplemental)
- Water Resource Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Primary-Long)
- Sustainability Specialists (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Engineers (Supplemental)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring industrial ecologists typically earn programs in:
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
4 programs across 4 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
3 programs across 1 majors
Natural Resources and Conservation
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Physical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-2041.03 (Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health).
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