Industrial Ecologists in Pennsylvania
Want to work as an Industrial Ecologists in Pennsylvania? Below are the key facts. Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” (19-1023), “Conservation Scientists” (19-1031), “Forest and Conservation Technicians” (19-4071), “Occupational Health and Safety Specialists” (19-5011), “Fish and Game Wardens” (33-3031), and “Forest and Conservation Workers” (45-4011).
What do Industrial Ecologists Make in Pennsylvania?
For a industrial ecologists working in Pennsylvania, wages run about $73,040 per year (or about $35.12/hour).Pay can range from $47,890 at the 10th percentile to $123,840 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,890 | $23.03 |
| 25th percentile | $57,640 | $27.71 |
| Median (50th) | $73,040 | $35.12 |
| 75th percentile | $97,020 | $46.64 |
| 90th percentile | $123,840 | $59.54 |
The job concentration index in Pennsylvania relative to the national average — is 0.78, meaning fewer industrial ecologists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, industrial ecologists earn a median of $83,212 per year ($40.01/hour), lower than the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 125,909 industrial ecologists nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, about 2,570 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 920 industrial ecologists.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Industrial Ecologists
The largest metro-area employers of industrial ecologists in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,280 | $75,850 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 560 | $62,710 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 300 | $77,990 |
| Lancaster, PA | 110 | $61,370 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 70 | $66,940 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 70 | $80,160 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 70 | $73,100 |
| Altoona, PA | 60 | $62,150 |
| Erie, PA | 30 | $57,530 |
| Reading, PA | 30 | $68,400 |
Top States for Industrial Ecologists Employment
The table below shows the states where the most industrial ecologists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 13,200 |
| Florida | 5,840 |
| North Carolina | 4,330 |
| Washington | 4,280 |
| Texas | 4,090 |
| New York | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | 2,990 |
| Massachusetts | 2,890 |
| Michigan | 2,700 |
| Virginia | 2,700 |
| Ohio | 2,570 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,570 |
| Colorado | 2,480 |
| Minnesota | 1,980 |
| Maryland | 1,800 |
| Arizona | 1,590 |
| Georgia | 1,530 |
| Louisiana | 1,520 |
| District of Columbia | 1,480 |
| Oregon | 1,400 |
Highest-Paying States for Industrial Ecologists
These states pay the most for industrial ecologists.
| 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 |
Skills
Key industrial ecologists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for industrial ecologists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, industrial ecologists typically:
- 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.
- Examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes.
- Monitor the environmental impact of development activities, pollution, or land degradation.
- Build and maintain databases of information about energy alternatives, pollutants, natural environments, industrial processes, and other information related to ecological change.
- Perform analyses to determine how human behavior can affect, and be affected by, changes in the environment.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Working with Computers
- Processing Information
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Thinking Creatively
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Apache Hadoop In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Sustainability Science
- Geography and Environmental Studies
- Marine Science
- Environmental Geosciences
- Public Health
- Pharmacology & Toxicology
- Chemistry
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Related Careers
Related occupations to industrial ecologists include:
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Water Resource Specialists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Sustainability Specialists
- Agricultural Engineers
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
Also Known As
Aquatic Ecologist, Eco-Industrial Development Consultant, Ecological Professional, Ecologist, Environmental Business Development Associate, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Protection Activist, Environmental Protection Agency Counselor, Environmental Protection Specialist, Forest Ecologist, Industrial Ecologist, Industrial Green Systems Designer, Industrial Retrofit Designer, Life Cycle Assessment Analyst, Natural Resources Energy Specialist.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 19-2041.03